"I only see advantages for team boss Patrick Lefevere" - Laurens ten Dam thinks there might be a reason behind the merger rumours

Laurens ten Dam has stated in his podcast Live Slow Ride Fast what he thinks about the rumors about a possible merger between Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step. The former rider indicates that he does not yet see the logic in it and regrets that cycling's largest team may have to merge because the sponsors do not come knocking.

"The only logical reason why this merger would be good for Jumbo-Visma is because the team cannot get a new sponsor." On the other hand, the Dutchman thinks that a possible merger could actually be good for the Soudal Quick-Step team. "You can finally give Remco Evenepoel a good team where things are well organised, and I only see advantages for team boss Patrick Lefevere."

Furthermore, Ten Dam indicates in his podcast that he makes together with Stefan Bolt that he does not think the two teams are similar at all. "They are of course two very different corporate cultures. On the one hand you have Jumbo-Visma who have arranged everything well and are as transparent as possible and on the other hand you have Patrick Lefevere who has a completely different view on this."

Ten Dam finds it extraordinary that the very best team cannot even find a sponsor, but he also has an explanation for this. "A major sponsor in cycling is often a family business. As a sponsor you have to have a feeling about cycling and that is why it is now difficult for Jumbo-Visma to find a new sponsor."

Finally, Ten Dam indicates that in this way two different cultures are disappearing in cycling. "Practical matters also need to be considered. The teams now have about fifty riders together. Twenty riders must then be put on the street. The women's teams and the training teams should also be merged. It will be very difficult to manage this properly."