"I have not been approached by them and I still have a contract for next year" - Wout Poels denies rumours of Soudal - Quick-Step move

With the 2023 road cycling season having reached its end, rumour and innuendo are running rife regarding potential transfers. One such example of this is the growing talk of Wout Poels potentially becoming a lieutenant of Remco Evenepoel at Soudal - Quick-Step.

Speaking with his compatriot Dylan van Baarle on the AD podcast In Koers however, the 36-year-old who took stage wins at both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana this year denies any truth in these rumours. "I have not been approached by them," he insists. "And I still have a contract for next year."

For both van Baarle and Poels it seems like the Tour de France will play a big part in their calendars for 2024. "Those last stages are nice and look promising," Poels eyes, looking ahead towards the unique finale that features an individual time-trial in Nice on stage 21. "It can be one of the most beautiful Tours ever, but it is still the riders who make the race. Moreover, it of course depends on what the standings are like."

"I'm a fan of climbs on the final weekend anyway. Those last two stages are really tough," adds van Baarle. "I haven't talked about it with the team yet, that will probably happen in December but I want to repeat my planning from last year."