OFFICIAL: Soudal Quick-Step announce signing of Movistar prospect and former U23 world champion after breakthrough Giro d'Italia performance
CyclingMonday, 10 August 2026 at 12:23
Soudal Quick-Step (Soudal Safety Jogger from 2027) continues to shape its roster for the coming seasons with the signing of Lorenzo Milesi. The Italian rider, a former U23 time trial world champion, will join the Belgian team from 2027 after agreeing a three-year deal through the end of 2029. He will leave Movistar Team after three years.
Milesi opens a new chapter in his professional career after four seasons in the WorldTour. At 24, the Italian still has room to grow and arrives at a structure that believes it can broaden his skill set beyond time trials.
His trajectory already showed clear signs of potential before stepping up to the top tier. In the U23 ranks he claimed stage wins at Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux and the Tour de l’Avenir, results that preceded his major international breakthrough: the U23 time trial world title in Stirling on a 36.2-kilometre course.
Since then, Milesi has been building experience in the sport’s biggest races. He has already started four Grand Tours and, although he is still chasing his first professional victory, he has repeatedly shown he is close to a breakthrough.
This season’s Giro d’Italia underlined that progression. The Italian posted three top-10 finishes: two from breakaways on the stages finishing in Potenza and Fermo, and another in the Massa individual time trial, where he again showcased his prowess against the clock.
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A team already on Milesi’s radar
Joining Soudal Quick-Step also carries a personal touch for Milesi. The Italian acknowledges the Belgian outfit was one of his favourite teams when he started cycling and that he even had contact with the structure during his junior years.
“When I started cycling, this team was one of my favourites, so you can imagine my joy at the thought of wearing this jersey from next year, especially after joining the team for a training camp during my junior days. It was a very easy decision,” Milesi said after sealing the move.
The Italian now faces the challenge of continuing his development within a structure keen to maximise all his qualities. Time trials will remain one of his main assets, but Milesi also wants to progress on other terrain.
“I love time trials, but I’m also comfortable on short climbs, and I hope to improve in both areas next season. I want to be there for the team, help it win whenever needed, and show what I can do, while also chasing good personal results when I get the chance,” he noted.
Lorenzo Milesi, Movistar Team rider.
Soudal Quick-Step backs his versatility
The Belgian team also stresses that Milesi is more than a pure time trial specialist. Jürgen Foré, CEO of Soudal Quick-Step, believes his ability to perform in different scenarios was a key factor in moving for him.
“We’ve known Lorenzo for a long time and we’re aware of his potential. He is much more than a simple time trialist, and it is precisely this impressive range of skills, together with the determination he has shown so far in his career, that convinced us he would fit perfectly into our team,” Foré explained.
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The Belgian squad hopes the next three seasons will allow Milesi to take another step forward and turn the consistency he has shown into higher-profile results.
“We’re very excited to work with him and we hope to create great memories together over the next three seasons,” the executive added.
With his arrival, Soudal Quick-Step adds a still-young rider with Grand Tour experience and a profile tailor-made for time trials, yet with scope to develop in the mountains and the classics. From 2027, Milesi will have a fresh opportunity to chase that first professional win that has so far eluded him.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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