Stijn Steels: "The Wolfpack isn’t just a name, it’s something real"

Stijn Steels' stint at Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team is coming to an end this month, however he and the Belgian team leave on good terms, with the experienced rouleur talking of what was an important experience for his career.

“I have a lot of beautiful memories from these three years with Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl. To have been part of one of the best teams in the world and in the history of this sport, to have made friendships that will last forever – these are things that I will always treasure and carry with me in the years to come," Steels said in a press release.

Having raced throughout several Belgian Continental and Pro Continental teams in the 2010's, Steels was signed by Quick-Step in 2020 - where his uncle Tom Steels is currently a DS - to be a domestique in the team, and mostly work for it's cobbled classics specialists and sprinters, a task comparable to that of Tim Declercq.

"When I was just a small kid, I was a fan of this team and used to go to the races with my flag to support the riders, so you can imagine how it was when I got a phone call asking me if I would like to join the squad. I was on cloud nine and accepted it immediately," he continued.

"The Wolfpack isn’t just a name, it’s something real, and I could see that multiple times, including after my crash at the Six Days of Gent last month. All my teammates contacted me, they were genuinely interested in how I felt," Steels revealed, "and I could feel again what it means to be part of this team. I am quite ok at the moment; I already did my first training session on the rollers and hopefully everything is going in the right direction."

The 33-year old will be stepping away from the team this season after over 140 race days and lots of experience with one of the world's top teams. His future is still uncertain as he does not have a contract for 2023, and his recent crash at the Six Days of Ghent will surely not help in his pursuit to remain in the peloton.

"I’m sad that my time there is over, but I’m happy I’ve made many friends and people were satisfied with the way I rode and gave everything. That’s why I want to thank the entire squad – riders and staff – for their work and the atmosphere they created."

"During my three years with the Wolfpack, I could see that the mentality and the friendly environment are the factors that make this team one of the best to ride for. Everybody is connected and cares for each other, and that’s only one of the reasons I will always support the Wolfpack," he concluded.