“Watch out for the American guy" - Patrick Lefevere tips 'new Peter Sagan' to make big impact in first year with Soudal - Quick-Step

Whilst understandably, much of the talk surrounding Soudal - Quick-Step at their training camp in Calpe is surrounding Remco Evenepoel, Patrick Lefevere has been incredibly impressed by one of the team's newest acquisitions.

“Watch out for the American guy. He’s fast and strong,” Lefevere has said of 21-year-old talent, Luke Lamperti. “If my memory is good, Tom Boonen started as a sprinter and ended his career as a Classics rider. Johan Museeuw was a sprinter at Lotto and became a Classics rider on my team. I think Luke can do the same.”

Lamperti has been touted by some as the 'new Peter Sagan'. Speaking himself, the former Trinity Racing star has admitted the Slovakian has been a big influence on him. “When I first started really watching cycling, Sagan was the guy and I watched him actually go past my house. That kind of made me made me a fan,” he tells Cycling News. “I liked the way he raced and everything he did in cycling and for the sport. For him to stop racing the year before I started as a pro is a shame, I always wanted to race with him, but I know him a bit.”

So what can we expect of Lamperti in 2024? “I wouldn't say I have the pure, pure power of the big sprinters, so the Classics could be what suits me a bit more in the future," he assesses. "But we'll find out a lot more this year."

“I think as a rider, you always put a bit of pressure on yourself, you always want to perform for yourself, but also for the team,” Lamperti concludes. “I definitely would like to do something this year. When you start good, you always you gain a lot of confidence. If I could start in a good way and have some good rides, for sure it helps everything.”