"I just hope that those making the decisions do the right thing by the riders" - Leading agent raises concern over rider welfare if proposed Visma-Soudal merger were to go through
Cycling
The much-talked-about, proposed merger between Jumbo-Visma and Soudal - Quick-Step has the potential to leave many riders out of work and it's this issue that leading agent João Correia believes could be a concern.
"My concern is that in these situations it’s the riders who get hurt and I just hope that those making the decisions do the right thing by the riders," Correia told GCN with as much as 20 riders set to become unemployed should the merger come to fruition. "I can see a situation where some riders are paid because they have a contract but that there isn’t a team to race for."
Correia currently advocates for the likes of Tao Geoghegan Hart, Mads Pedersen, Coryn Labecki and Soudal - Quick-Step rider Casper Pedersen. "If one of those teams disappears, then the licence can be absorbed but not all the athletes. I think we could be looking at 20 riders out of work," he says concernedly.
Another aspect to take into consideration are the non-rider staff members who near 100 on the books of Soudal - Quick-Step and could all be left in the lurch given the potential merger. With so many questions still be answered, a lot remains unclear about the ramifications of a Visma-Soudal team forming.
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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Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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"We don't agree with all this s**t. We want to continue Soudal Quick-Step." Tre Valli Viranese winner Ilan Van Wilder said 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 what he thought about rumours of a merger. @IlanWilder | @soudalquickstep | #TreValliVaresine
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