“We’re convinced that we’re doing something good and something right” – Roodhooft brothers outline Alpecin-Deceuninck’s future as transfer rebuild takes shape
Cycling
Alpecin-Deceuninck’s masterminds Philip and Christoph Roodhooft have rarely been ones for bold proclamations. But as they reflected on their third consecutive Team Manager of the Year crown in Belgium, one quote cut straight through the noise — and perfectly captured their mindset heading into 2026.
“We’re convinced that we’re doing something good and something right,” Philip said, speaking to HLN.
It is the line that underpins everything the brothers believe about where their team stands — and where it is going.
A structure built to last – and still improving
While much of the cycling world spent 2025 debating whether Alpecin-Deceuninck were entering a period of transition, the Roodhoofts have made it clear that the opposite is true. Their season spanned wins across the road, cyclocross, gravel and track, but the duo insist the real achievement lies behind the scenes.
Philip explained: “I think our contribution is actually quite big. There is something standing now — a machine running on automatisms, in which we all lift each other to a higher level.”
Christoph emphasised the importance of the internal environment: “Within the whole working atmosphere, we make sure everyone feels good in their skin and we cultivate the right balance. We expect a lot, but we also let things run fairly freely.”
It is that balance — ambitious but never suffocating — that they believe has become their greatest strength.
A sponsor exit? “And then?”
The most immediate storyline surrounding the team has been the departure of co-sponsor Deceuninck.
Externally, it sparked predictable whispers about instability. Internally, the Roodhoofts remain completely unfazed.
Christoph put it bluntly: “Of course it’s not pleasant when a sponsor leaves. But at the same time we think: ‘and then?’ We keep working, we stay busy.”
Philip sees the bigger picture: “Everything that has already been renewed or will be renewed puts that expiring sponsor contract a bit in the shade.”
In other words: the foundations are solid, and the long-term plan remains intact.
Stronger after the transfer window — not weaker
Plenty has been made of the number of riders leaving, but the brothers’ response was telling: relief that someone finally saw it differently. “Someone who sees it!” Christoph joked when told the squad looked strengthened, not depleted.
He elaborated: “We actually feel we’ve come out of the transfer period better. Cheaper and stronger.”
The return of Maurice Ballerstedt and the arrivals of De Vylder, Busatto, Thijssen and Geens all fit into the team’s developmental blueprint. Meanwhile, excitement around young Dutch talent Tibor del Grosso is unmistakable.
Christoph said: “Put him next to others in the current peloton — riders of that level at that age — in the races we want to be competitive in.”
Philip added: “Brennan, Magnier… he belongs in that group.”
Ambition without panic: the brothers’ 2026 outlook
When asked what must improve in 2026, Philip refused to join the instinctive chase for “more, bigger, better”: “The question is: does it need to be better? If it’s the same or just slightly less, it will still be fine.”
There are significant goals — such as a potential fourth Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix for Mathieu van der Poel — but the brothers insist improvement comes in increments as much as in Monuments.
Christoph echoed the value of perspective: “A less good year is not the end of the world. It can happen, even when you do everything correctly. As long as you can conclude that you tried to get the maximum out of it.”
A team that keeps winning, because it keeps evolving
From their composed handling of sponsor changes, to their confidence in their developmental model, to their refusal to succumb to panic narratives, the Roodhooft brothers delivered a message of quiet certainty. “We’re convinced that we’re doing something good and something right.”
In a sport where teams can lose direction in a single off-season, that conviction — steady, calm, and entirely internal — may be the greatest competitive edge Alpecin-Deceuninck possesses heading into 2026.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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