Alberto Dainese will wear the colours of Soudal Quick-Step from 2025 through the end of 2027, becoming the latest signing for the Belgian team as they look to reinforce their roster after the departure of Remco Evenepoel. The 26-year-old sprinter from Abano Terme in Italy’s Veneto region has carved out a reputation for excelling in mass finishes, amassing key victories across his career, including three grand tour stage wins, two in the Giro d’Italia (2022 and 2023) and one in the Vuelta a España, the most recent Italian success in that race.
From next season, Dainese will aim to add to both his personal tally and the team’s list of victories. “I have dreamed of joining the Wolfpack since I was a kid. I remember watching the team on TV and being impressed with their mentality and winning culture. I'm very happy to finally have this opportunity and to ride for Soudal Quick-Step starting next year. I have noticed in the peloton the way this team races and their approach to cycling, and that impressed me a lot. I'm looking forward to next season and giving my best at every opportunity. I want to contribute to as many victories as possible and experience great moments with the team,” Dainese said after signing his contract.
Team CEO Jurgen Foré welcomed the arrival. “Alberto is a fast rider and we are convinced that he still has a lot to prove in the coming years. He has achieved outstanding results in the mass sprints, not only in stage races or grand tours, but also in demanding one-day races, including the Belgian semi-classics. Together, we can aim to achieve some very nice things in the next two years.”
Dainese began his 2025 campaign in Mallorca, finishing 10th in the Trofeo Palma and 45th in the Trofeo Ses Salines. February brought a 7th place in the Clásica de Almería and participation in the Volta ao Algarve, where he ended 107th overall. In March, he opened Paris–Nice with 3rd place on stage one and 14th in the team time trial before abandoning on the final day.
He then raced in Belgium and France, finishing 8th in the Danilith Nokere Koerse, 17th in the Bredene Koksijde Classic, and 76th in La Roue Tourangelle. April saw him place 45th in Scheldeprijs, while May delivered podiums (3rd in the Classique Dunkerque and 2nd in the final stage of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque) plus two 6th-place stage results.
In June, he was 11th in the Elfstedenronde Brugge, 15th in the Brussels Cycling Classic, and 31st in the Heistse Pijl. He claimed victory in stage one of the Baloise Belgium Tour and finished 10th in the points classification. July brought the Tour de France, where he placed 119th overall and 50th in the points competition, with a series of top-10 finishes: 6th in stage 17, 12th in stage 11, 8th in stage 8, and 10th in stage 3. He also contested the Italian national road championship but did not finish.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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