New signing Dylan van Baarle will be targeting the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in his first season with Soudal-QuickStep, as the team look to refocus on the Classics after the departure of Remco Evenepoel.
Van Baarle, who won Paris-Roubaix in 2022, signed for QuickStep from Visma-Lease a Bike this winter, with the team recruiting proven Classics riders in an attempt to hit the ground running again in the races that used to be their bread and butter.
“I love them, they hold a special place in my heart and I would love to be in the mix for a good result or contribute to the team’s success.”
Van Baarle and fellow Monument winner Jasper Stuyven were two of the team’s major signings for 2026, and they join riders like Tim Merlier, Yves Lampaert and Paul Magnier in the strengthened Classics core. However, Van Baarle – who has been part of two Tour de France-winning teams with Jonas Vingegaard – will also take on a role in stage races.
My View
Matilda Price
I’m glad to see Van Baarle already aiming high, and Soudal-QuickStep have made some really strong reinforcements to fill the Evenepoel gap, but I fear their Classics – particularly Flanders and Roubaix – campaign may still be just chasing podiums, because they simply don’t have a rider on the level of Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar.
Departing Visma after three years, the Dutch rider has already been settling in with his new team, and will make his racing debut next month at the Volta ao Algarve, he confirmed, before moving on to a Classics block.
“The two training camps went really well. It was nice to get to know everyone, from the staff to the riders. It’s a great group of riders and this gave me a good feeling. I can’t wait for my first race, Algarve, because…
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