"I will certainly not be hopelessly alone" - Yves Lampaert ready to lead Soudal - Quick-Step in the classics without Julian Alaphilippe
Cycling
Wielerflits recently caught up with Yves Lampaert as he prepares for the 2025 season. With Kasper Asgreen and Julian Alaphilippe leaving Soudal – Quick-Step, the Belgian rider is set to take on greater responsibility in the classics.
For Lampaert, their departures could also mean less internal competition for leadership roles. “That was always okay. I will miss those guys. They were not only super good guys on the bike, but also off the bike.”
The 33-year-old has a strong pedigree in the cobbled classics, having won Dwars door Vlaanderen in both 2017 and 2018. Despite his new leadership role, he won’t be entirely alone in major races.
“Tim Merlier will also be there a few times. Think of a Gent-Wevelgem or Paris-Roubaix, for example. So I will certainly not be hopelessly alone.” His confidence remains high as he looks ahead to key one-day races.
Lampaert is also mindful of how rival teams will shape race dynamics. "It mainly depends on how the other teams will take control of the race. It remains to be seen whether UAE Emirates-XRG will take control of a race like E3 Saxo Classic right from the start or whether they will first look at it from behind."
He specifically referenced Tadej Pogacar’s return to Flemish races, which could shake up the usual tactical approaches. The Slovenian’s presence will likely influence how aggressive teams are willing to be early on.
Another major change for Soudal – Quick-Step heading into 2025 is Patrick Lefevere stepping down as CEO. "I've always had respect for our boss and we'll definitely miss him. He could sometimes put you in your place, but it was always with a lot of love and with the best intentions."
Lampaert will hope to make an impressive start to 2025, as the team adapt to the post Lefevere era.
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- Funny that they shorten women’s races but have no qualms about letting U23 do the same distances.Jumpyjohn23-03-2025
- Why is that relevant when discussing speed?Mistermaumau23-03-2025
- But he wasn’t the only one ;-)Mistermaumau23-03-2025
- Obviously the questions are more important to some here than to them or the team so I suggest looking for answers instead of asking questions between ourselves. We’ll probably get them unless someone actually goes to ask the protagonists themselves. Here are some starters : They like riding together; they have their own rivalry that helps bring out the best in both; they might get more points helping each other compared to racing separate races. In any case, unless we hear MJ complaining about it, I don’t think it’s going to change, it’s the Sepp Kuss syndrome all over again, fans lobbying against the will of the rider.Mistermaumau23-03-2025
- Mine goes to MVDP for entertaining us all year round :-) Stellar race, Ganna impressive in his own way as many predicted after some oddly lacklustre times.Mistermaumau23-03-2025
- i remember when not too long ago mathieu was regarded as a real tactical knucklehead. i’m not sure that was ever quite accurate, but it’s certainly the case that over the years he has become a real master tactician. in the biggest races, van der poel rarely makes choices that don’t fully optimize every specific advantage he has.OCexile23-03-2025
- Whatever the result, I believe the strategy by UAE to launch Pogacar was absolutely the right one. Unfortunately, they just were not able to execute it the way they must have planned, being all over the place at the start of the Cipressa.Cooldude23-03-2025
- They are without doubt not just the best two classics riders of this generation, but amongst the best of all time. MvdP is more suited to MSR and PR (which Pog has yet to race), while Pog is now almost untouchable at LBL and Lombardia. RVV is the only one where both basically have an equal chance to win.Cooldude23-03-2025
- bravissima!
maria2024202423-03-2025 - According to Tadej's Strava upload, he went up the Cipressa at an average speed of 37.6kph. Rocket ship! He did the 5.63km verified 'Cipressa' Strava segment in 8:59 minutes, which has a 4.3% average grade and total elevation gain of 229m. Naturally, he got the Strava KOM.Pogboom23-03-2025