As Remco Evenepoel’s official departure from Soudal-QuickStep looms ever closer, team CEO Jurgen Foré has recognised the massive contribution made by the Belgian star to his squad, but also highlighted the drawbacks of the protracted saga surrounding Evenepoel’s exit.
Soon to leave for new team Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe – in fact he is already at their training camp – Evenepoel took 67 wins during his time at Soudal-QuickStep, with the Vuelta a España, a podium finish overall and stages of the Tour de France, and multiple editions of Liège-Bastogne-Liège amongst his many triumphs.
However, as Foré told Belgian newspaper Dernière Heure, while Evenepoel’s success was a huge part of Soudal’s history, he also had the feeling that for part of the outside world, the team “only existed for the rider from Brabançonne [Evenepoel]”. On top of that, he said, the lengthy uncertainty about Evenepoel’s departure had partly befogged their rider recruitment strategy.
“We’re talking about a process that unfolded over several years… I joined the team in January 2024, and this issue was already on the table,” Foré told Dernière Heure.
“Last winter, this doubt wasn’t helpful when it came to certain recruitment decisions: was it worth continuing to invest around Remco if he was just going to leave a few months later?” Foré asked rhetorically.
When faced with Evenepoel’s decision to end his contract a year early, Foré argued that the team had little room for manoeuvre, as Belgian labour law normally favours employee rights in these sorts of situations.
“I’ve never hidden my opinion that a contract is made to be respected,” Foré said. “We’re not like football” – a sport where contracts are often terminated early – “and I’m very glad about that.
Moving on
Evenepoel is now about to leave, though, and the team has continued, with Foré saying that once…
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