"We didn't have any choice, in fact, but to accept Remco's departure" - Quick-Step boss on how the Belgian law helped transfer of the season

Soudal - Quick-Step is one of the team that is undergoing the biggest of changes this winter, with Remco Evenepoel leaving the team and turning the page on a years-long story, and with the team putting its full focus back in the classics and sprints once again. Jurgen Foré, team CEO, has talked about the departure and what it means to the team.

Foré became the head of the team after the departure of Patrick Lefevere almost one year ago to this date, and he took over a situation that was already complicated for several years. Besides INEOS Grenadiers, now Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe also had the money and interest to buy out the contract of the Olympic, World and European Champion.

"We're talking about a process that unfolded over several years… I joined the team in January 2024, and this issue was already on the table," Foré said in an interview with Dernière Heure. "The uncertainly sometimes got to be a burden; I prefer clarity to a question mark that lingers for too long". 

And the Evenepoel ordeal already made its presence felt last winter, when it was not clear what path the team should go for in terms of transfers, knowing the Belgian was within a chance of leaving the team at any time.

"Last winter, this doubt wasn't helpful when it came to certain recruitment decisions: was it worth continuing to invest around Remco if he was just going to leave a few months later?" The signings of Valentin Paret-Peintre, Max Schachmann and Ethan Hayter as the key figures showed there was much more of a focus on the hilly and mountainous races still. That can't be compared with this year's push into specialists such as Jasper Stuyven, Dylan van Baarle and Alberto Dainese who thrive in other terrains.

"I've never hidden my opinion that a contract is made to be respected. We're not like football and I'm very glad about that. But the Belgian labour legislation hasn't helped that because it always puts the Belgian riders in a position of strength," Foré adds. This can co-relate to Cian Uijtdebroeks' position, in which the Belgian rider has already ended his contract prematurely on two occasions.

At Quick-Step, there was little that could be done, he says. "We didn't have any choice, in fact, but to accept Remco's departure. If he'd been a different nationality, we'd have been in a better position." But that was not the case, and by the time August rolled in, the team had already firm agreements with several riders, agreements that were worked on throughout the spring and summer when Evenepoel's departure already seemed obvious.

"It's been a huge achievement to work with a superstar like Remco, but a new chapter of the team is now about to open next season, These last few years, several of the guys have been able to mature, patiently, in Remco's shadow, but now they're ready to blossom.

It is a team with the formerly mentioned Dainese, Tim Merlier and Paul Magnier leading the sprints; Stuyven, van Baarle and Magnier as the head men for the classics; but still a strong climbing block with the likes of Mikel Landa, Valentin Paret-Peintre, Ilan van Wilder and the newly-signed Steff Cras. "Evenepoel's exit marks a new approach and new responsibilities for these riders, but I'm convinced it can be a fruitful one."

"Above all, and I'll say it again, we're reconnecting with the team. The Tour de France remains the most important event of the year in terms of advertising revenue for our partners, and my primary goal at the start of a new season is to win there. This was a key factor in our recruitment," he concluded.