Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team have reinforced their sprinter setup with Tim Merlier who is set to replace Mark Cavendish. However, with the continuous ambitions for the flat terrain, the team has also put focus on obtaining a rider specifically for the leadouts, and that was Casper Pedersen.
“I have also been impressed by the talents of Casper Pedersen," Patrick Lefevere said. "I think he can look at his countryman Michael Mørkøv, with whom he shares many similar traits and learn a lot from".
Pedersen had been rumoured to be in the move to the Belgian team over the last few weeks, and now it has been confirmed in a two-year deal. Pedersen has ridden for Team DSM since 2019 where his rouleur skills have seen him succeed in his early years, inclusively winning Paris-Tours confirming his talent as a powerhouse who can thrive in the classics but also in the flat stages.
He'll likely be a key domestique for Tim Merlier, as the team is keen on having him eventually replace Michael Morkov as a leadout expert. Morkov's compatriot has been largely absent this year. DSM has also lost Soren Kragh Andersen towards Alpecin-Deceuninck, two of the riders that have marked their 2020 season the most.
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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.
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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)...
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Join us in giving a warm welcome to @MerlierTim, @HirtJan and @pedersencasp, who will all ride for the Wolfpack from 2023! Read more about this, here: quickstep-alphavinylteam.com/en/news/5673/q… Photo: @GettySport
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