Two recent news flashes in professional cycling have underlined some key uncertainties about the future of the sport. First, it was reported that Peter Sagan was in talks with Team Astana team about a contract for 2017, after Tinkoff Bank ceases its cycling sponsorship at the end of this year. More recently, it was confirmed that the IAM Cycling WorldTour Team will be folding at the end of the year, as its management was unable to secure a successor sponsor. These may seem to be two unrelated developments, but there are some intriguing ways in which they might intertwine to create a lucrative opportunity for the right player. In addition to being the current World Champion, Sagan is the peloton’s most charismatic star; he was recently ranked by Sports Pro Media as the 26th “most marketable” athlete in the world – ahead of such global stars as Rory McIlroy, Usain Bolt, and Lionel Messi...