“We would have liked to have Pavel Sivakov or Laurens De Plus" - Patrick Lefevere reveals Soudal - Quick-Step missed out on top climbing targets

Soudal - Quick-Step are very keen to reinforce their climbing ranks during this transfer period as they look to help support the Grand Tour quests of Remco Evenepoel. As team boss Patrick Lefevere admits though, they missed out on their two top targets.

“We would have liked to have Pavel Sivakov or Laurens De Plus, but the former was too expensive and Laurens decided to stay with INEOS Grenadiers," the Belgian laments in conversation with Het Nieuwsblad. "We were also interested in Carlos Verona, but he already signed in February. I refuse to participate in that. The transfer of Mikel Landa can now be completed at any time."

That signing of Landa is one that Lefevere hopes will please Evenepoel, ensuring the 2022 Vuelta a Espana and World Championship winner stays at Soudal - Quick-Step at least for the foreseeable future.

“At the age of 33, he decided to work for Remco for two years," he explains. "Through a caretaker of ours who knows him well, he made the first contacts himself. I think Remco is happy with that, even though he doesn't really make many demands himself.”