"The classics team here is better than the Classics team at Soudal Quick-Step" - Tim Declercq motivated for new challenge with Lidl-Trek

Tim Declercq has spent seven years with Soudal - Quick-Step but the time has come to face a new challenge. He admits that with Lidl-Trek he'll be part of a stronger classics block than in the Belgian team - where in the past many of the classics stars raced and won.

“Everyone knew that they had to make choices with Quick-Step, let me put it that way, and you saw lots of guys leaving on the Classics team who were out of contract," Declercq talked with GCN. "I never really got a ‘no’ from Patrick [Lefevere] but he never made me a proposition either. When it came to August it was time to check for other opportunities and I was super happy that a team like Lidl-Trek had interest in me. It’s an ambitious team that’s growing. I’m a guy who doesn't want to change the whole time and when I feel good in one place, I like to stay there. I had some great moments in Soudal Quick-Step. For myself, though, it’s good to go out of my comfort zone and to a new team where they have new impulses and I hope that I can maintain the same level."

Declercq should have a similar role in the American team, but with Mads Pedersen in the lead he believes that he can help the team to succeed in the spring. “I’ve not done training with them yet but the classics team here is better than the Classics team at Soudal Quick-Step. Of course, it’s difficult when you don’t have one of the big three but Mads is a guy who comes straight after them and maybe he’s a guy who can put his foot next to them," the 34-year old continued.

"He also has the weapon of his sprint, so it could be exciting times. Also, the atmosphere is very nice and I feel at home here. I don’t think that we’re the big favourites but we have a team that can compete in every race that we start. We need to have that mindset.” Declercq's signing was one of the many deals the team has had this winter, after a big budget increase that has led to the addition of several new leaders - whilst keeping it's current ones.

The focus on the Grand Tours and in supporting Remco Evenepoel was an absolute priority for the Belgian team, and choice had to be made. The team's block of Kasper Asgreen, Florian Sénéchal and Yves Lampaert in the lead has not performed in the last few years as it had in the past, and it did not justify a large investment in this field as other teams arrive at the classics with leaders a whole level above.

“They have to make choices when they have a limited budget, and I understand that. For a guy like Remco, it’s logical that you make choices towards that direction. They still have good guys in the Classics but you can say they’ve done a lot in those races, so it would be epic if they won the Tour. I think it’s possible that [Evenepoel] can win but he’s not the big favourite. Pogacar and Vingegaard are still a step ahead but I can’t say that Remco doesn’t have a chance.”