Grand Tour veteran Larry Warbasse confirmed on Friday that he will move from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale to Tudor Pro Cycling in 2025, continuing his professional cycling career into its 13th season.
The one-year contract for Warbasse completed the Swiss ProTeam squad, which consists of 30 riders. He adds another dimension of climbing and versatility to a large group looking to support newly signed team leaders Julian Alaphilippe, the two-time world road race champion, and Marc Hirshi, stage winner in the Tour de France and second in the 2024 Tour de France added Amstel Gold Race. Both were confirmed in August with three-year contracts to meet the Swiss team’s ambitious goals from 2025.
Warbasse, a former U.S. pro road champion and trusted homebody with 10 years of WorldTour experience, rarely rode alone. This year he finished fifth overall at the Tour Poitou – Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine.
His last appearances at the Decathlon AG2R, where he raced for six years, were earlier this month with a series of four races, Giro dell-Emilia to Il Lombardia. During his time in Italy, during a stop in the Lake Como area at the Madonna del Ghisallo church, a shrine to cyclists, he posted on social media: “I’m praying to the cycling gods for a job.” That seemed to do the trick .
“When the team reached out to me, I didn’t hesitate and couldn’t think of anything else I would rather progress in my career. Next season will be my 13th as a professional and I’m looking forward to both of them helping out.” “Our leaders give their best in the biggest races while helping to support the younger riders in the team to reach their full potential” said Warbasse in a statement from Tudor Pro Cycling.
“It’s a great project and a team that is making rapid progress, something that I and many others have taken note of over the last few years. It’s a motivated and forward-thinking team with first-class partners, from Tudor to BMC. Like many others, I can’t wait to get started!”
Warbasse spoke along Cycling News just before Il Lombardia and confirmed that he would be “really sad” to stop racing at just 34 years old. He felt like he had more to give. “I really love this sport and I love racing my bike.”
In 2024, he helped Ben O’Connor to the Australian’s first Grand Tour podium finish and second overall at the Vuelta a España after wearing the leader’s red jersey for 13 days. Warbasse was not only an important part of his former teammate’s Vuelta success, but also in two other races earlier this season.
“Ben came fourth at Tirreno-Adriatico and fourth at the Giro d’Italia. “I was always there, consistent and good, both in the race and outside the race, which is also an important part of an experienced domestique,” Warbasse told Cyclingnews.
Now O’Connor is taking his talents to Jayco-AlUla. Warbasse is also continuing his career on the bike instead of pursuing a new career as a presenter, team manager or even gravel privateer, an idea that emerged from his 19th place finish at the Unbound Gravel 200 in 2023.
Tudor Pro Cycling, which moved from the Swiss Racing Academy in 2022 on the initiative of two-time Olympic champion and five-time cycling world champion Fabian Cancellara and moved to the ProTeam level in 2023. The squad made its first Grand Tour appearance in 2024 at the Giro d’Italia.
Warbasse would be one of the preferred riders to return to the Giro, a Grand Tour in which he has competed most often, six of his eleven Grand Tours. Another year of racing is also another chance to finally compete in the Tour de France.
by 
