“Maybe it's also too early to send Magnier to the Tour” — Soudal Quick-Step CEO urges patience with the French prodigy
Cycling
Soudal Quick-Step CEO Jurgen Foré has warned that the 2026 Tour de France will not be one for pure sprinters, after the route was unveiled a few days ago.
Speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws, he described the upcoming edition as one of the most demanding in years.
"It will be a Tour for the strong sprinters, because the course is very difficult," Foré said. "There's the start and the second week is tough too. The sprint stages are scattered in between. And on the penultimate day there's still a mountain stage with 5,600 metres of climbing... which I find a bit excessive."
Despite Tim Merlier taking two stage victories for the Belgian squad in this year’s Tour, Soudal Quick-Step are not planning to rely solely on bunch finishes in 2026. Instead, Foré explained that the team intends to approach the race with greater tactical diversity.
"With Jasper Stuyven and Dylan van Baarle we have strong riders who could perform well in the transition stages, and Ilan Van Wilder, Mikel Landa, Junior Lecerf, Steff Cras and Valentin Paret-Peintre can hold their own in the mountains," he said.
When asked if Soudal - Quick-Step could target the overall standings with their climbing contingent, amongst which Remco Evenepoel will not feature after his move to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, Foré did not dismiss the idea. However, he reminded that results must also serve the team’s sponsors.
"Why not? If you finish anonymously in eighth place, the sponsors don't get much out of that. But it can also be done another way, like Junior did in the Vuelta: by racing attractively," Foré explained, referring to William Junior Lecerf’s aggressive riding style at the Spanish Grand Tour, in which he finished in 11th place.
While some French fans may be hoping to see rising star Paul Magnier at the 2026 Tour, Foré was cautious about fast-tracking the 21-year-old into cycling’s toughest race.
"It's far too early to talk about that, but maybe it's also too early to send Magnier to the Tour," he cautioned. "Ok, he wins a lot, but we shouldn't forget that he's only 21. He rode two weeks of the Giro this year. To then immediately expose him to the Tour..."
Paul Magnier has impressed in the 2025 season, dominating the sprints and getting 19 wins, only behind Tadej Pogacar, who got 20. He couldn't raise his arms at the Giro d'Italia, which was the first Grand Tour of his young career, although he finished three times inside the top 10.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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