It's not that long ago that the 'Wolfpack' of Soudal - Quick-Step were rather dominant in the Classics around this time of year. In 2024 however, that's been far from the case.
Soudal - Quick-Step boss, Patrick Lefevere is not one to hold back on his criticism either, regularly venting his frustration via a public means. As such, one of the team's stalwarts, Yves Lampaert, realises some improvement is needed within the side for this Spring campaign to be considered a success.
"You have guys like Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert or Mads Pedersen who are superior. And we cannot make our mark," Lampaert admitted in a recent interview with Belgian TV talk show, Vive le Velo. "We no longer dictate the race like we used to. That's not fun."
Despite this however, Lampaert doesn't think things are quite as bad as some might suggest. "In the end: in Gent-Wevelgem there were two men in front and behind them was a group of about 40 riders, of which there were five of us. So that was how not disastrous it was," he clarifies. "But it is true that we no longer decide what happens in the race like we used to. That is difficult to accept at the moment."
"You have young guys like Paul Magnier, Luke Lamperti or William Junior Lecerf who are doing great. In Gent-Wevelgem, Gil Gelders also rode in the final as a first-year professional. I think it still needs some time to let those guys flourish," Lampaert continues. "In other areas, things are going very well. Mikel Landa finished second in the Volta a Catalunya and Remco Evenepoel is phenomenal."
"Of course, I would also like to show myself again. That will be very difficult in the Tour of Flanders," he concludes. "That has become a phenomenally difficult race and I don't know if we have the power for that. For me, that will be difficult. But I hope to be there in Paris-Roubaix."
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