Pascal Eenkhoorn set to join the struggling Soudal - Quick-Step for next two years

After Victor Campenaerts's expected departure for Visma | Lease a Bike, another Lotto Dstny rider is rumoured to be on his way to the competition with Pascal Eenkhoorn set to bolster the struggling classics lineup of Soudal - Quick-Step.

According to what WielerFlits reports, in fact, the 2022 Dutch champion will race from next year for Soudal - Quick-Step, with which he has reportedly reached a two-year agreement. The Belgiam team is working on rebuilding their once nearly invincible spring lineup. This year's classics campaign of the Wolfpack has been one disaster with only the sprinter Tim Merlier scoring some smaller results in sprints.

While the 27-year-old Eenkhoorn will certainly some extra depth to the roster, with both his rolling qualities and vast experience of seven years in the professional peloton, this is not the kind of big signing that will bring the Belgian team the success they're striving for. Still, Eenkhoorn could become an important card to play in the middle of races. However, the team needs to find someone with good enough legs to get in the mix for a result in the first place.

Speaking of Eenkhoorn's exploits, we certainly have to highlight his impressive ride during the 2023 Tour de France stage 18 to Bourg-en-Bresse, where he single-handedly bridged to the leading breakaway and then nearly won the stage, only losing in a sprint to his potentially future teammate Kasper Asgreen (currently out of contract for 2025).

2024 so far was neither good or bad year for Eenkhoorn, who spent most of his races supporting his leaders - either Arnaud De Lie in the classics or Maxim Van Gils in stage races, patiently awaiting a chance to go for his own result. That opportunity arised at his home race Volta NXT Classic (1.1) when he joined the winning move halfway through the stage and in the end only lost in a sprint to young Belgian Timo Kielich.