"We are employees and unfortunately, when push comes to shove, we don't really mean much" - Ilan Van Wilder on lack of clarity during Soudal - Quick-Step merger talks

Ilan Van Wilder is widely regarded as one of the big hopes in Belgian cycling. Towards the end of 2023 however, he was involved in a spat with his own team after talk of a potential merger between Soudal - Quick-Step and Jumbo-Visma emerged.

"It was a very unclear period in which everyone gave up. We were in Italy with a large part of the team and the atmosphere was not very good. We had a hard time with the ignorance and the lack of clarity," the 23-year-old has recently reflected in conversation with Sporza. "I don't regret the emotions I showed. I said my thoughts and I'm satisfied with that."

Many both in the peloton and just general fans of cycling shared Van Wilder's concerns about the merger and the lack of clarity. In the Belgian's own opinion however, he was speaking out for his teammates who weren't confident enough to do so themselves.

"I stood up for my teammates and the staff. I hope that might have done something, but I am very happy that it did not happen," he explains. "There were conversations during the whole thing and also a little afterwards. There was a lot going on above our heads. We are employees and unfortunately, when push comes to shove, we don't really mean much. That's harsh, but that's life."