Despite Jasper Stuyven signing for Soudal-QuickStep for 2026, he has revealed he never thought he and compatriot Remco Evenepoel would be teammates, with the latter making a landmark move to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe for next season.
Evenepoel’s future was the subject of months of speculation, but for Stuyven, it was almost clear that joining Soudal-QuickStep would mean joining as one of the new focal points, with their former star set to depart.
“I never knew Jurgen [Foré’s] current status or vision regarding Remco, but I felt this year was the time for Remco to leave, and that’s how I approached it. I didn’t sign with Remco in mind, thinking it would be good or bad.”
Having ridden as teammates for the Belgian national squad several times, notably at the Paris Olympics last year and World Championships in 2022 – two events Evenepoel won – Stuyven said it became clearer as they crossed paths in the summer that a partnership at Soudal-QuickStep wasn’t incoming.
Stuyven’s arrival marks a change of direction for Soudal-QuickStep, back to their former focus on the Classics and with sprinters at Grand Tours. The former Milan-San Remo winner will play an essential role in both, as co-leader in the former, and vital lead-out in the latter – for Tim Merlier.
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