After the Belgian superstar\u2019s high-profile and sometimes tense transfer this week to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe<\/a>, the Belgian squad is returning to its roots.<\/p>\n And Quick-Step is using what is a kind of \u201cEvenepoel dividend\u201d to fuel a revival of the \u201cWolfpack.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite a valid contract for 2026, management opted to avoid a protracted legal battle. Terms of agreement remain under wraps, but the Red Bull deal included a reported seven-figure buyout.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not going to discuss sums, but it\u2019s a fair amount,\u201d Soudal Quick-Step CEO Jurgen For\u00e9 told Sporza<\/a>. \u201cAlthough sponsors like Soudal would prefer to see a contract honored, we decided we didn\u2019t want to go to court.\u201d<\/p>\n That \u201cfair amount\u201d isn\u2019t just the reported seven-figure buyout, but the team also frees itself from Evenepoel\u2019s estimated \u20ac5.5 million annual salary.<\/p>\n That financial windfall is allowing For\u00e9 to shop aggressively in the transfer market.<\/p>\n Also read: Evenepoel is now the peloton\u2019s second-best paid rider<\/a><\/p>\n The team\u2019s already scooping up top proven classics stars, with the team confirmed Friday that 2022 Paris-Roubaix champion Dylan van Baarle is moving across from Visma-Lease a Bike.<\/p>\n He joins confirmed signees, including 2019 Milan-San Remo winner Jasper Stuyven<\/a> (Lidl-Trek), Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-Deceuninck), and homegrown prospect Jonathan Vervenne from the devo team.<\/p>\n Evenepoel is gone, but the team is using the extra cash to reboot its stage-raiding, classics-hunting \u201cWolfpack\u201d that made it cycling\u2019s most feared one-day racing outfit for two decades.<\/p>\n Rebuilding the \u2018Wolfpack\u2019 DNA Evenepoel\u2019s departure with a year still left on his contract will see Quick-Step reshuffle the chairs inside the team bus.<\/p>\n When Evenepoel burst onto the scene as a precocious teenager in 2019, Quick-Step pivoted its roster to support his stage race ambitions, choosing to sacrifice its trademark classics firepower to back a potential Tour de France winner.<\/p>\n That shift paid off big dividends when Evenepoel delivered Belgium\u2019s first grand tour win in 40 years at the 2022 Vuelta, a Tour de France podium with third in 2024, and a collection of rainbow jerseys and Olympic gold medals.<\/p>\n That came at a cost, and it meant the squad\u2019s spring dominance was dulled.<\/p>\n Also read: Red Bull lands Evenepoel, but can he beat Poga\u010dar and Vingegaard?<\/a><\/p>\n Van Baarle\u2019s arrival, confirmed Friday, underscores how the team is rewiring its DNA again.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m incredibly excited to be joining Soudal Quick-Step, a team that I was watching on TV when I was young, especially during Tom Boonen\u2019s days,\u201d Van Baarle said Friday in a team release. \u201cMy goal is to be back at my best level for the classics, and hopefully, we will fight for victories there.\u201d<\/p>\n Dylan van Baarle will be a Soudal Quick-Step rider in 2026. The 2022 Paris-Roubaix winner joins on two-year deal pic.twitter.com\/MUPFX5RVJo<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) August 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s more turnover behind the headlines as the Evenepoel deal continues to churn.<\/p>\n Eight riders are on their way out or off-contract, with Mattia Cattaneo expected to follow Evenepoel to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.<\/p>\n Budding American star Luke Lamperti<\/a> is expected to join EF Education-EasyPost, while Pieter Serry, James Knox, Josef \u010cern\u00fd, Jordi Warlop, and Antoine Huby remain unconfirmed.<\/p>\n Turning the page on Evenepoel turmoil Losing Evenepoel means Quick-Step loses its headline act and one of cycling\u2019s most bankable stars, especially among its Belgian-based backers.<\/p>\n But For\u00e9 said Evenepoel\u2019s future with the team became too distracting when it was obvious he wanted to leave. After months and even years of wrangling, everyone finally decided it was time to part ways.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a kind of relief that there\u2019s clarity,\u201d For\u00e9 told Sporza. \u201cWe\u2019ve been around for 23 years and have written many chapters. This is just one of them. I want to turn the page now and have confidence.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is absolutely not the end of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n Also read: Stuyven joins Quick-Step<\/a><\/p>\n In addition to hitting the transfer market, Quick-Step is also doubling down on its existing strengths.<\/p>\n Tim Merlier<\/a>, fresh off two stage wins at the 2025 Tour, anchors the sprint train, while 21-year-old Paul Magnier<\/a> \u2014 already touted as \u201cthe next Tom Boonen\u201d \u2014 will see classics leadership.<\/p>\n Mikel Landa remains the team\u2019s best GC bet, under contract through 2026, \u00a0and he will be targeting the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a after returning this week at the Vuelta a Burgos from his Giro crash.<\/p>\n The first big moves of cycling\u2019s transfer window<\/p>\n Jasper Stuyven, 33, has agreed to join Soudal Quick-Step and Attila Valter, 27, has signed for Team Bahrain Victorious, both on three-year deals starting in January.<\/p>\n Sprint Cycling pic.twitter.com\/D7caCMScbw<\/a><\/p>\n
\n![\"Van](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2164648090-720x480.jpg\")
Van Baarle brings classics pedigree in move to Quick-Step. (Photo: Joris Verwijst\/BSR Agency\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\n![\"Evenepoel\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2224291191-720x480.jpg\")
Evenepoel congratulates Merlier with a stage win at the 2025 Tour. (Photo: MARCO BERTORELLO\/POOL\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n