Remco Evenepoel was a product of Soudal – Quick-Step‘s development and has become it’s big start in the 2020’s. Evenepoel’s surge brought alongside it a whole new aspect to pro cycling when it came to scouting riders at a young age, but it seems as if his time with the Belgian team is running out as more and more details emerge over what could be the new deal with Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe.
Contradicting arguments come from the two teams and the journalists that closely cover the topic. Amongst those, Daniel Benson and Ciro Scognamiglio have heavily indicated that a deal between the two is either on the verge of being agreed on, or already has. Gazzetta dello Sport has written this week that the agreement was reached on Monday – whilst Evenepoel dismissed this, claiming that he had been ill from Monday to Wednesday.
Quick-Step’s CEO Jurgen Foré has not publicly stated that there would be a departure this winter, despite the Olympic Champion’s current contract until 2026. BORA’s Ralph Denk went as far as saying “Remco has a contract with Soudal for next year” only a few days ago. But it seems certain that there is a lot happening behind the scenes that the heads of the teams are not communicating.
At the same time as the statements from public figures in the teams indicate that little or nothing has changed, yet another news outlet has reported that a deal has been agreed on and has shared quite a lot of details on what it should look like.
It is known with a very high degree of certainty that the German team will sign Mattia Cattaneo who was Evenepoel’s right-hand man at this Tour until his withdrawal, and also former Belgian national coach Sven Vanthourenhout. But according to La Dernière Heure the team will also sign Quick-Step DS Klaas Lodewyck, team mechanic Dario Kloek and soigneur David Geeroms. This would mark a massive move as the team looks to bring in the men closest to Evenepoel, in similar light to what happened with riders such as Primoz Roglic (to BORA as well) and Tom Pidcock in the past.
Perhaps most importantly however, as it is necessary for there to be consent between all parties including the Belgian team, there could be a buyout. This would be the financial value that Quick-Step would be paying in 2026 to Evenepoel which is of €2 million euros. Reportedly, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe will pay this sum.