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.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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Once a wolf, forever a wolf 👊 Thank you for three beautiful years, for your incredible work and commitment, and all the great memories, @StijnSteels 🤗 quickstep-alphavinylteam.com/en/blog/5832/s…
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