Soudal Quick-Step launches a satellite partnership with Italian junior team with "an excellent reputation"
Cycling
Soudal - Quick-Step underlines its commitment to young rider development through a new partnership with Italian junior team Autozai Contri. Alongside already-existing partnerships with Belgian team Avia-Rudyco and Soudal Quick-Step's own uncder-19 feeder, this partnership serves as a confirmation of Quick-Step's future vision.
For a long time, Quick-Step stood in the back row of talent scouting and development, but has rapidly expanded its scope since the establishment of under-23 development team in 2023. The team's very own junior team then came soon after in 2025.
The junior team is currently represented by 11 talented riders from both home and foreign talent. And it seems as though the team have already struck gold with first-year junior Vic De Smet who triumphed seven times this season.
There is a good reason Quick-Step have chosen Autozai Contri as their partners among many strong Italian junior outfits. The project has built a great reputation as a talent factory with Edoardo Affini, Luca Mozzato or Filippo Zana to name a few of its high-profile alumni.
It is a bit unfortunate for Quick-Step they haven't reached this agreement a year earlier though, as they had to watch idly as Alessio Magagnotti - the last year's outstanding sprinter talent who has already displayed his talent among professionals this season - signed with Red Bull's talent academy.
In any case, it is clear that the two structures have a good relationship as not only former alumni Filippo Zana has found his path to Soudal - Quick-Step's elite team, former Autozai rider Erazem Valjavec is currently part of Quick-Step's development team.
Looking at Autozai's 2026 team, there is no such outstanding figure such as was Magagnotti (23 victories as junior + several track trophies with Italian national team), but climber Thomas Mariotto and sprinter Marco Pierotto might benefit from this new partnership with a spot on Quick-Step's under-23 team.
Note of recognition
Speaking of the new partnership, Soudal Quick-Step CEO Jurgen Foré said in a press release: "We are delighted to begin this collaboration with Riboli Team Autozai Contri, a team with a proud history and an excellent reputation for developing young riders. Italy has always been an important country in the story of our team, and we see this partnership as an opportunity to invest in the future of Italian cycling."
"What makes this collaboration particularly exciting is that it allows talented young Italian riders to continue their development within a familiar environment while benefiting from the knowledge, experience and performance structures that exist within both organisations. We believe that young riders develop best when they are supported both athletically and personally, and this partnership helps us provide exactly that."
Adding to these sentiments was Riboli Team Autozai Contri General Manager Enrico Mantovanelli, who said. "This new partnership with an organization that has played a pivotal role in the history of global cycling fills us with satisfaction and pride. The fact that Soudal Quick-Step has chosen Autozai Contri as its Italian junior partner represents, for us, a significant recognition of the work we have done in recent years."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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