The Soudal Quick-Step team, under the direction of Patrick Lefevere, has been recognized for its strong collective performance over the years, with prominent figures excelling in various specialties. Currently, however, the spotlight is on one rider in particular: Remco Evenepoel.
The young Belgian has accounted for a significant portion of the team's UCI points in past seasons, highlighting his importance in training. That means that, as the folks at WielerFlits comment, the pressure in 2024 in terms of what the team expects of them will be on Julian Alaphilippe and Kasper Asgreen.
After Evenepoel, the rider with the most UCI points was Andrea Bagioli, but the gap between the two was considerable, underlining the team's dependence on its leader. The departure of several key riders has created an atmosphere of uncertainty for the 2024 season, with a revamped team and an additional burden on the shoulders of the remaining leaders.
The team's financial strategy has led to the departure of several riders, most of whom have been replaced by first-year professionals. This renewal of the team reflects Lefevere's commitment to develop young talent around Evenepoel. The arrival of Mikel Landa is seen as an important reinforcement for the grand tour competitions, with the Spaniard hoping to shine in the Tour de France and provide crucial support to Evenepoel.
Although Evenepoel is seen as a promising Tour de France contender, the pressure on him does not overshadow the importance of other riders in the team, particularly Julian Alaphilippe and Kasper Asgreen. Both have expiring contracts and need to prove their worth in the coming season. Lefevere has stressed the importance of Alaphilippe and Asgreen stepping up, especially after past seasons marked by setbacks and injuries.
Alaphilippe, in particular, has faced criticism for his performance since his last world title in 2021, which has increased the pressure on him to achieve outstanding results in spring racing. Asgreen, meanwhile, has some credit after his stage win in last year's Tour, but needs to cement his position as a key rider in the team.
The team also relies on the potential of young talents such as Luke Lamperti and Paul Magnier to excel in the season. The departure of experienced riders opens up opportunities for these youngsters to prove themselves and contribute to the team's success in the various competitions.
In summary, the 2024 season presents challenges and opportunities for Soudal Quick-Step, with a renewed focus on developing young talent and increased pressure on riders like Alaphilippe and Asgreen to lead the team to success. The team's ability to adapt to these changes and maintain solid performance will be key in its quest for outstanding results on the WorldTour circuit.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- The conditions there were absolutely heavenly. No wonder that Vanthourenhout was literally sucked into the ground. I think Mason and Wyseure are very similar types of riders. We've seen that when Vanthourenhout has been in a similar position to where Mason was, and Wyseure has had the legs, he's been able to power his way back. But that's not quite possible when Mason is putting out more power in front.
Rafionain-Glas11-11-2026 - What a win! It's been been so long in the waiting but I'm so glad for Cameron that he's finally got that victory. Sad to see Brand crash out like that. It didn't look too bad initially but there was clearly something very wrong. It could be like van Aert's last yearRafionain-Glas11-11-2026
- since you called pidcock pogi's BIG RIVAL in another article a few days ago ... i guess adding ciccone to the mix makes him almost unbeatable, no?Ketterechts11-11-2026
- 🤣🤣🤣what a headlineabstractengineer11-11-2026
- When you have four or five guys who are defined leaders of teams that are winning races or at least placing highly in big races, a lot of guys who are racing will not be seen as assets to those teams. If they can't be part of the program then they are let go. I remember back if you won a single stage of the Tour and maybe had a good classic result you would have a cemented place on a team. That is not the case now in the era we live in because the top guys are so good and their goals are so defined. It's bad in a way for them but good for us as fans.awp11-11-2026
- Lots of people seem fed up of Pogi's phenomenal dominance, but I've been drawn into watching professional cycling again (after the Armstrong doping era, that's when I stopped) because of it. I don't think I'd be as interested if it wasn't for Pogi. People call it boring, it’s the exact opposite for me, I will never ever tire of watching absolute greatness in action. He is the greatest athlete this planet has ever produced. Ad acta!!!PogiSloFans11-11-2026
- dfsdfsdfsdfwajohe447911-11-2026
- I have no sympathy for Ayuso or the situations he gets himself into. He was a traitor in the UAE team, he hated Pogi and never wanted to work for him. He always had excuses why he couldn't perform. No riders in the team liked his character and did not approve the kind of person he was on a deep, moral, or personal level. I just don't care about him. Ad acta.PogiSloFans11-11-2026
- Great response! I love the article also. Interesting to see which "Legends" will be covered. There are a few out there :-)
DareDevil11-11-2026 - This is one of the reasons why Ineos is failing, G can comment on his pod but why has he not attracted talent from the peloton to Ineos. He has lot of inside track. Also ratcliffe handling of Man United is also disastrous.abstractengineer11-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment