"We don't really know what was wrong with Remco" - Quick-Step teammates learnt about Evenepoel's transfer only 1 hour in advance
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel's departure from Soudal - Quick-Step has rocked the team to it's core but as it's been possible to see by the signings of Jasper Stuyven and Dylan van Baarle, they were also fully prepared for it. However most of the riders did not know of the transfer's seriousness until... One hour before it was announced.
Evenepoel was initially planned to be at his fan meetup today in Schepdaal, Belgium, but was absent as he travelled to Livigno for an altitude training camp where he is preparing for the World Championships.
In words to VTM Nieuws his parents have explained the situation: "He got the green light two days ago to leave for an altitude training camp in Livigno. This way, he can already prepare for his new goals. It's definitely a shame that Remco isn't here. Medically, he wasn't ready to ride among everyone. And it's also good for him to have a complete reset. People will understand,"
What we learn about now is that within the team there was a general lack of information that the leader was indeed leaving. Yves Lampaert told Het Nieuwsblad: "We had a meeting an hour before the press release was released. Understand is an overstatement, because we don't really know what was wrong with Remco. It all happened a bit above our heads. But hey, he made the choice. As a team, we owe a lot to Remco, and vice versa, so I hope we can part as friends."
Lampaert is part of the teams classics block which can now be revived, and he believes that perhaps this lack of closeness with his teammate is what had him more surprised about the sudden transfer that was unveiled to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe.
"Perhaps because I'm a different type of rider and because I see things slightly differently than he does. You hear most of it through the media or on Peloton radio. You don't know how much of it is true; the rumors have been circulating for years, but I'm not shocked by them anymore."
"Remco himself sent a message in our general WhatsApp group saying he's leaving and thanking everyone," the Belgian shared. "He hasn't addressed the rest of the group yet, but it's probably all a bit much for him too at the moment".
"For the management, yes. They can move on now, and it's also clear to the sponsors now. We, the riders, will certainly miss him. He delivered a lot of trophies and therefore took the pressure off the rest. On the other hand, and I'll say it in Tom Boonen's words: if you cut down a large tree, the small trees underneath grow much faster."
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.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
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)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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