Jasper Stuyven warns his rivals - "The big four won’t automatically be first, second, third and fourth"

Soudal–Quick-Step allowed their brightest jewel to depart at the end of last season, returning to their roots for 2026. With the exit of Remco Evenepoel, the Belgian squad reshaped its roster with the clear ambition of becoming a feared and respected force once again in the major Classics, recruiting a group of riders with powerful engines and proven ability to deliver results.

However, the 2026 campaign has fallen well short of expectations. The team has managed just two stage victories at the Volta ao Algarve, along with a stage win and the overall classification at the Giro di Sardegna. It must be said, these results are far from what was anticipated.

Jasper Stuyven was one of Quick-Step’s headline signings this season, arriving from Lidl-Trek. So far, he has secured a seventh-place finish at Milan-Sanremo and, last week, tenth place at In Flanders Fields - From Middlekerke to Wevelgem.

“The ‘big four’ are widely talked about, but that doesn’t mean they will automatically finish first, second, third and fourth,” he told Het Nieuwsblad, clearly referring to Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert.

At 33 years of age, the Belgian rider has nothing left to prove, boasting a palmarès filled with victories. Still, he is fully aware that fighting for wins in the Classics against the sport’s current elite is always a difficult task.

“It’s a very strong generation I have to compete against, but I can’t start with the idea that there are four or five riders I simply can’t follow. That would be the wrong approach.”

Looking ahead to this Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, Stuyven issued a warning to the more heavily favoured contenders: “I won’t just wait for an attack on Sunday, I fully intend to race for the podium.”

With three top-ten finishes at the Tour of Flanders, Stuyven brings considerable experience into the race. The question now is whether that experience, both in voice and in legs, will be enough to disrupt a battle dominated by the sport’s very best. Stuyven and Soudal–Quick-Step now have the final say.