"I think we were underestimated last season" - 'Wolfpack' just as strong as ever insists Yves Lampaert

Although for some, Soudal - Quick-Step may have seemed somewhat below-par during the 2023 road season, their 32-year-old Belgian star, Yves Lampaert believes many teams would switch for a year like the 'Wolfpack'.

"I think we were underestimated last season," the former stage winner at both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana tells Sporza following his participation in the Bredene Beach Race, notably won by his Soudal - Quick Step teammate, Tim Merlier.

In total, Soudal - Quick Step took home 55 victories over the course of the year, including notable victories from leader Remco Evenepoel at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Clasica San Sebastian, time-trial World Championship and multiple stages of the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana. Alongside other impressive results, such as Kasper Asgreen's Tour de France stage and Andrea Bagioli's second place finish at Il Lombardia, there was much success.

For Lampaert though, it's frustrating that these results have seemingly gone under the radar for many. "We still have 55 victories and we were third in the UCI standings with the team," he concludes. "Of the other teams, many would like to sign for our year."