"If the finish line is slightly uphill or comes after a hard race, he’ll always be one of the best" - Soudal - Quick-Step bet on Luke Lamperti's classics potential
Cycling
Luke Lamperti made no less than impressive professional debut with Soudal - Quick-Step which included a stage win at Czech Tour, five more podium results and a Grand Tour debut at Giro d'Italia. For now, the American seems cut out for a role of sprinter, but in the team they expect him to become the next classics star.
"He has the qualities to win after a hard race, which makes him a perfect candidate for the classics," sport manager Tom Steels told Velo. "That should be a goal for him. He has the potential to be a leader or an incredible teammate, but he still has time to develop," he said. "He definitely has the qualities to make it as a top professional."
Yet despite showing his qualities as a sprinter time and time again, Lamperti will have a hard time breaking through as sprinter within Wolfpack who see even greater potential in another youngster, the 20-year-old Paul Magnier. And then there's also Tim Merlier, one of the world's best sprinters, who is a lock for the team’s Tour de France nomination. "This season will show us exactly where he stands as a rider."
Lamperti knows he might need to head in different direction to find his own place: "I don’t think I’ll be doing pure bunch sprints. I don’t know if I have the power for it," he admitted in an interview with Velo last year. "But at the same time, I’m happy to give them a go. I think I’ll do more of the classics, harder races, maybe [ones with] a bit harder of a sprint."
"But I think if I can make that next step to turning those into being more consistently on the podium and winning, that’s the step I would like to make," Lamperti said of 2025. "Obviously, it’s always easier said than done. We’ll see what I really develop into," he said. "But I think with the team, for sure I’m figuring out more and more what I’m actually good at."
"He’s more of a tough sprinter. If the finish line is slightly uphill or comes after a hard race, he’ll always be one of the best," Steels analyzes. "His sense of positioning is exceptional for such a young rider. He really understands the bunch and feels the race, which isn’t something you see often."
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- You don't have domestique, Tom. It's a problem. Without Del Toro, for sure Ayuso would not be in front of you.
maria2024202416-03-2025 - yesEvan16-03-2025
- He’s not unlike SK, people just don’t want to accept their decisionsMistermaumau16-03-2025
- Really happy for Matteo, especially despite not having much team support over the last couple of days. He's strong and in great form. He'll be a strong teammate for Jonas in the Tour. Also happy for Magnus—he's had a tough two years, and this is a well-earned reward for his dedication. Ineos have really come out fighting this year and I'm really liking this from them.Pedalmasher16-03-2025
- Is this a joke?Jkolner12316-03-2025
- He has declined leadership though in the past? Lack of confidence? Hedging your bets works sometimes, at other times it is better to commit and go in big.Cyclingsbestfan16-03-2025
- Pidcock is starting sound like a more mature rider. It may be the media reports when he was at ineos skewing things, but he starting to sound like a defferent person.Cyclingsbestfan16-03-2025
- Yep If he could just get some consistency going with his form, he would be a rider to be reckoned with in any gc race. As it is he blows hot and cold.Cyclingsbestfan16-03-2025
- I was watching the race live, and it seems like this crash could have been avoided. A pre-race course inspection and appropriate signage.yuckly16-03-2025
- Jonas won T-A last tear and wanted to do P-N this year. Jorgensen also wanted to do it, he declined every si gle opportunity to be a solo leader, eevry stage race Jonas doesn't do, Girovappaxbipmv16-03-2025