After all the speculation and transfer news, Remco Evenepoel is finally moving from Soudal Quick-Step to Red Bull in 2026. Photo courtesy of SWpix.
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It’s done, it’s over. After months of wrangling and speculation, Remco Evenepoel has left Soudal Quick-Step after terminating his contract. The Belgian rider had a deal in place for 2026 with the team he turned professional with in 2019, but has decided to leave after agreeing terms with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe on a multi-year contract that will commence in 2026.
We wrote back in July that personal terms had already been agreed between Evenepoel and Red Bull on a deal of between three and four years in length and that the only missing piece to the jigsaw was a settlement that involved Soudal Quick-Step.
In order for the move to take place, a three-party agreement had to be met between both teams and the rider, and it’s understood that the compensation package involved paying Soudal Quick-Step a settlement fee, with the deal finalised last week.
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During the Tour, we also reported that several individuals familiar with the negotiations informed us that the deal is close, with one estimating it at 70 per cent complete and another at 80 per cent. We’re finally at 100 per cent.
“Remco stands for ambition. He doesn’t just want to ride – he wants to shape cycling,” said Ralph Denk, CEO of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
“He brings not only exceptional athletic talent, but also a remarkable mindset. His determination, professionalism, and relentless drive to succeed are truly inspiring.”
In the last week there had been reports that the settlement fee was 2M Euros but that figure was wildly undervalued based on the fact that under Belgian law Evenepoel would have needed to pay the final year of his existing deal – around 5-7M Euros – in order to break his contract, and that Red Bull would likely have needed to appease Soudal Quick-Step by providing further funds in order to push the deal over the line.
We’re still waiting on Red Bull to also announce Mattia Cattaneo on a three-year deal. Sports director Klaas Lodewyck, who has been important in the Evenepoel transfer, according to our sources, is also following the rider to Red Bull. Lodewyck’s contract was due to expire at the end of this season. Gianni Vermeersch is also joining Red Bull from Alpecin.
Today’s news concludes a long and drawn-out saga that has lasted for several years. The links over a potential transfer first circulated in autumn 2022, shortly after Evenepoel had won the Vuelta a España. Former team boss Patrick Lefevere confirmed to me that Ineos Grenadiers boss Dave Brailsford had shown interest in signing Evenepoel, and that story, along with comments from Evenepoel’s father, who is also his agent, sparked significant controversy in the cycling world.