Soudal - Quick-Step add two more Belgian talents after Remco Evenepoel's departure

Soudal - Quick-Step are the World Tour team that is most aggressively hitting the market with new signings, at least from those that are being publicly announced. Today, after the likes of Alberto Dainese, Jasper Stuyven, Dylan van Baarle and others were confirmed as joining the team in 2026, the team adds Steff Cras and Fabio van den Bossche to it's ranks.

“The many results Steff has achieved in stage races and on some of cycling’s hardest climbs speak volumes about his ability on tough terrain, and have helped him become an accomplished stage race rider," team CEO Jurgen Foré said in a press release. "We believe we can offer him the perfect environment to progress further, and that we’ll see some great performances from him next season.”

Cras' departure from TotalEnergies had already been confirmed to CyclingUpToDate before the Tour de France, and the rumours that the Belgian team might have been his destination were correct. The 29-year old is a stage-race specialist and will add firepower to the team's mountain squad in the absence of Evenepoel next year. Fabio van den Bossche, joining current Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Edward Planckaert in the move to Quick-Step, is a track specialist and on the road he is a quality rouleur and leadout man.

“Regarding Fabio, he is a young and very versatile rider who will strengthen our team in multiple areas. As he’s already said, he is eager to work hard and improve, and we are confident he will do so as part of our squad. We will also support him in pursuing his ambitions on the track, and we look forward to what we hope will be a very successful partnership.”

"I’m really glad that I will wear the jersey of this team over the next two seasons. My ambition is to help the squad achieve important victories and maybe win a couple of races myself if the opportunity arises. I like La Vuelta – I’m actually a big fan of this Grand Tour and of racing in Spain – but I also enjoy stage races and the Ardennes Classics, which I hope to ride next year.”

“I’m very excited, because I have always admired Soudal Quick-Step, ever since Tom Boonen and Iljo Keisse – who were my idols as a kid – raced for the team. I also have great memories of competing against Soudal Quick-Step in the peloton, so to now be part of it is something special. I hope to help the team in the Classics and as a member of the lead-out train, and I’m determined to play my part in securing as many wins as possible. At the same time, I want to keep improving both on the road and on the track, where I will continue chasing a World Championship gold medal and aim to return to the Olympics.”