"A very strange situation" - Former Quick-Step rider Zdenek Stybar fears merger could hinder his chances of signing for a team in 2024
Cycling
Zdenek Stybar's contract at Team Jayco AlUla expires at the end of the year but the Czech rider fears that his hopes of finding a new World Tour contract may be hindered by the potential merger between Jumbo-Visma and Stybar's former team, Soudal - Quick-Step.
"My contract is ending and it's going to be very difficult. This situation doesn't really help me. I would like to get another result and I will try to do that, so I will keep fighting. But it's difficult," worries the 37-year-old in conversation with In de Leiderstrui.
Around 20 riders are thought to be joining the unemployment list if the merger between Soudal - Quick-Step and Jumbo-Visma were to go ahead. For riders such as Stybar, this means there will be much more competition for available spots in different World Tour teams.
"Of course that is a very strange situation. It might be a shame for Quick Step, because what has been built up over the years might disappear," says Stybar. "But sometimes you can't stop such an evolution. There will certainly be a business model behind it, with people like Zdenek Bakala behind it."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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