ANALYSIS: How Soudal - Quick-Step shape up for 2026 in the first season of the post-Evenepoel era

The 2026 season marks a turning point for Soudal - Quick-Step, a team that in recent years has been closely associated with Grand Tours and with the figure of Remco Evenepoel.

The Belgian’s departure to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe opens a new chapter without the most dominant leader the team has had in recent seasons, forcing the squad to redefine its priorities and return to the challenges that have historically shaped the team’s identity. Tim Merlier remains as the main leader for the sprints, while Mikel Landa stands as the only major option for Grand Tours.

Although the team retains a solid and competitive core, management has made it clear that the focus will change. Stage wins, individual victories and success in the Classics will be prioritised over fighting for overall classification in the Grand Tours.

Evenepoel did not only bring extraordinary potential in stage races, but also a level of leadership that dictated the team’s entire strategy. With his departure, Soudal Quick-Step enters a transitional phase, in which both experienced riders and young talents will have to take on greater responsibility.

The experience of riders such as Mikel Landa, Yves Lampaert and Jasper Stuyven becomes crucial in order to remain competitive in one-day races and specific stages, while emerging talents like Gianmarco Garofoli, Gil Gelders and Junior Lecerf are given the opportunity to prove themselves at WorldTour level.

The team maintains a strong focus on the Classics and shorter races, areas where it has historically excelled. The presence of sprinters and powerful all-rounders such as Ethan Hayter, Tim Merlier, Casper Pedersen and Dylan Van Baarle ensures that Quick-Step will continue to be a major presence in fast finishes and rolling terrain, both in Grand Tours and in the Classics. The mix of youth and experience will allow the team to maintain a high competitive level while encouraging tactical versatility in different race situations.

In addition, Evenepoel’s exit opens the door to a more distributed leadership model, with several riders capable of stepping up depending on the race. Riders such as Maximilian Schachmann, Jasper Stuyven, Bert Van Lerberghe and Louis Vervaeke become key options for partial results, while younger riders like Ayco Bastiaens, Valentin Paret-Peintre and Filippo Zana are gradually integrated into the professional squad, bringing freshness and ambition.

From a strategic point of view, the team’s philosophy remains clear: maximise collective performance and make use of squad depth to compete on multiple fronts at the same time. Without Evenepoel, Soudal Quick-Step is focusing on tactical efficiency, selecting specific objectives where it can capitalise on its strengths, from one-day Classics to explosive stage finishes, as well as stage races where top ten finishes or stage wins are realistic and valuable goals.

The 2026 season therefore represents a period of renewal and consolidation. The team’s history shows that even during transitional phases, the Quick-Step structure and philosophy allow it to remain competitive. The combination of experience, youth and specialisation on specific terrain ensures that Soudal will continue to make its mark on the WorldTour calendar, even without its most high-profile leader of recent years.