"Max Schachmann is in the pipeline" - Patrick Lefevere confirms Soudal - Quick-Step plans to continue improving climbing ranks

In recent years, Patrick Lefevere's Soudal - Quick-Step roster has been making a notably switch from packed with Classics specialists to more and more climbers finding a home in the Belgian-based outfit. This plan seems to be continuing heading towards the 2025 season.

Lefevere has put his eggs firmly in the basket of Remco Evenepoel in recent years, and although the recent Olympic gold medallist's future continues to be cast in doubt itself, with rumours of a Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe move circling and the continued talk of INEOS Grenadiers interest, Soudal - Quick-Step continue to improve their climbing block around the Belgian, former Vuelta a Espana winner.

Earlier in the year, Lefevere confirmed that French climbing talent Valentin Paret-Peintre was in talks with Soudal - Quick-Step and although, at time of writing at least, no official confirmation from the teams involved has been announced, the deal is widely considered completed. That's not the end of things though, with a former German champion also reportedly deep in conversation with a move to join Lefevere and Evenepoel.

“Max Schachmann is in the pipeline. He will probably come to the team," Lefevere confirms to the respected British journalist Daniel Benson. "I have a soft spot for him. He has had two tough years, was ill, but I know him from the early years of his career. He is a good rider and a pleasant person.”

In terms of departures, Lefevere has confirmed Kasper Asgreen is set to leave, whilst Julian Alaphilippe's future remains uncertain. Gianni Moscon is also in his contract year, but according to Lefevere himself, the Italian will not be going anywhere. "Gianni will probably stay for two more years," Lefevere concludes. "He wanted to stop racing last year because he was so disappointed with his previous team Astana Qazaqstan. His manager told me then that if he couldn't come to our team, he would stop. Moscon was a very good rider in the Tour. He rode on minimum wage, but as a reward he now gets a two-year contract."