A story that does not grab the spotlight as is the case with other riders, but is certainly mention worthy. Soudal - Quick-Step and Patrick Lefevere pulled Gianni Moscon out of certain retirement on a one-year deal, and after a strong season and Tour de France the Italian is now set to renew with the team where he has become a valuable domestique for Remco Evenepoel.
This is reported by Gazzetta dello Sport's Ciro Scognamiglio, who writes this morning on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he is about to sign a new two-year contract extension with the Belgian team, before focusing on the Autumn World Tour classics later on in the season. Moscon was a gamble of Patrick Lefevere himself, signing him in a similar way that he did with Mark Cavendish a few years back - very successfully, at the time.
Patrick Lefevere made the bid for the Italian rider, albeit in a contract with the minimal salary. "Gianni only wanted to ride for our team. It was either that or quit as a rider and become an apple farmer in Italy". Moscon was eager to take the opportunity regardless of the conditions. His contract had run out with the Astana Qazaqstan Team and he was in a crossroads in his career.
"Sometimes it felt disrespectful that I had to race in those circumstances. I looked like an idiot on TV," he told Het Nieuwsblad at the time, also admitting that he was considering retirement after two years where he felt like he had stagnated and was racing in far from ideal conditions.
Moscon raced Paris-Nice with Evenepoel and then again the Criterium du Dauphiné. He was on the shortlist for the Tour de France but eventually proved his worth and was selected, contributing for the Belgian's podium. Lefevere has seen enough from the 30-year old to consider extending the contract with the team, likely in more favourable conditions.
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