The end of an era has been reached, it had become apparent for the last couple of seasons but Soudal - Quick-Step's position as a dominant classics team is no more, and team manager Patrick Lefevere admits that role is now with Jumbo-Visma.
"In the end, we have to conclude that Jumbo-Visma are now the team that we were a few years ago. I didn't come back from Rwanda for this," Lefevere said in very honest words to Het Nieuwsblad after the end of Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne. "We let ourselves be a bit overwhelmed by the yellow. But there are also guys with us who can ride like Benoot. If Van Hooydonck gets into a break, then there could be four of us with him."
The team has in the past achieved countless great victories, but above all had dominant performances throughout entire springs, with very strong lineups which they could use to victory with several riders in several scenarios. After the Opening Weekend, Lefevere believes the opposite is seen within the team.
Click
here to win $10,5850/€10,000/£8,800 with only $3,17/€3/£2,65 to play in the
The Fantasy Le Samyn (RtL)
"But that won't happen. I have the impression that we want to race defensively, that we don't want to take the bull by the horns. We're not used to that," he continued. "Bad luck? Ballerini was out front when they got away on Trieu but dropped away, as did Florian Sénéchal. Yes, Lampaert was behind the crash but that didn't happen at the front, let's be clear."
Read also
At Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Ballerini raced to sixth as the team's only figure in the peloton. At Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne Fabio Jakobsen could only sprint to 9th - also as the team's only finisher in the peloton, after the team tried to reel back the attacks. An underwhelming Opening Weekend by all measures for the Belgian team, who have witnessed first hand the domination of Jumbo-Visma.
"That's the difference – we used to race at the front. Then you're not behind the crashes. We once rode away at E3 Harelbeke because the rest fell behind us. Now, they all race in a scattered way. These are the same riders as two years ago. Ballerini won Omloop then and Lampaert is still Lampaert. But it's true that we have shifted emphasis a little within the team. There are a few who are coming to the end of their contracts. If they want an extension, then I will be on the other side of the table," he states.
The pressure is on for Quick-Step who take Kasper Asgreen and Fabio Jakobsen to Le Samyn in chase of an important boost of morale. Despite the spring being far from over, the early signs were far from good and that is known within the team.
"Our guys have been away at altitude training too, eh? But not at the same altitude, I think," Lefevere continued. "We bought altitude tents on purpose so we could sleep in them in Calpe. Jumbo-Visma impresses, but they also just have a very strong team. I know that."
Read also
"We shouldn't panic now, though. The season has only just started and with Remco's overall win at the UAE Tour we have already won our 12th race. I don't feel angry – we have to go through this. The season is still long," Lefevere concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Pidcock finished 9th place, 29 minutes down. he is a helluva rider, so gutsy. and he is amazing at all disciplines. but this headline is . . .mij09-11-2026
- I know, watch the video. and listen to her competitors. it was a tricky tacky call at best. WTF is this guy talking about??? my original comment was from the picture it didn't look like anything.mij09-11-2026
- I dunno what you're talking about. you make no sense. MS's competitor and the competitors coach said it was BS. she didn't deviate in a way that relegation should be required. revel LOL. you're so cool, in your own mind.mij09-11-2026
- deviation lol, watch the videomij09-11-2026
- the 'No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines' comment was unfortunately a bit off. didn't you just boast about your principles in the comments section of another article?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- Are you MrMauMau 2.0? Nothing you are saying is really relevant. Vaguely connected, but irrelevant. The conversation is whether Schreiber impeded Brand or not.
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026
Loading
Thr Opening Weekend is a wrap ✅ Photo: @BeelWout
2 Comments