"I would be interested": Tom Boonen indicates that he would be open to the idea of helping Wolfpack return to the top
Cycling
Soudal - Quick-Step is a team that in the past swept the classics. The mythical 'Wolfpack' was unstoppable, and perhaps that's the path they need to return to without Remco Evenepoel. To that end, one of their greatest legends, Tom Boonen, has offered to return to serve as the team's coach from the start of next season.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Boonen said that there had been no negotiations or contact with Quick-Step, but that he is willing to return to the team if they want him to:
"Wilfried Peeters can come and talk. I would be interested in participating in the spring classics campaign. If Soudal - Quick-Step wants to put the spring team back together, I would be interested," the four-time Paris-Roubaix winner began decisively.
In the 2004-2012 period, Fabian Cancellara and Boonen fought some of the most exciting battles of Paris-Roubaix, winning seven editions among the two (Boonen 4 and Cancellara 3). Boonen was also extremely successful in other Flemish Classics, winning three editions of Tour of Flanders, 3x Gent Wevelgem, 5x E3 Saxo Classic, and more. With this experience, Boonen believes his contribution could be crucial to the tactical aspect of Belgian team's spring campaign.
Boonen was later asked to clarify these statements during an appearance on Sporza's Cycling Club's Wattage podcast, again repeating that no negotiations had taken place at this time:
"No, not at all. Het Nieuwsblad asked me if I was interested in doing it and I didn't say I wanted to come back anyway. But I did say that if there is a time within the last few years, it is now. A new start is possible," he added.
Tom Boonen, Quick-Step's absolute legend
Names to restore the illusion
Soudal - Quick-Step's moves so far in the cycling market have been quite promising in the dream to reign again in the spring classics. Dylan van Baarle and Jasper Stuyven will join the 'Wolfpack' from January 1, 2026.
However, Tom Boonen suggested that his future cobbled classics leader is already a part of the team. Paul Magnier is enjoying an outstanding second season with the team, including 13 wins, and 7 in his last 9 race days.
"It looks like they're not going to give up their core. They have Paul Magnier, and he should be able to win Classics. I think they can take steps towards the former Quick-Step in the next two or three years," concluded Tom Boonen on the future of Soudal's 21-year-old French talent.
Read also
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling for
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment