When you look for copper and find gold... Wolfpack found their perfect replacement for Edward Planckaert!

It's taken a brief back and forth, but now Soudal - Quick-Step truly concluded its lineup for the 2026 season. Their 30th (31st) rider for the upcoming period will be Laurenz Rex, a strong cobbles specialist who comes over from Intermarché - Wanty with a reputation of a two-time Paris-Roubaix top-10 finisher. The 25-year-old will thus join Jasper Stuyven and Dylan van Baarle in the rebirth of Wolfpack and over the next three seasons will hunt the big victory.

This season, Rex not only finished 10th at Paris-Roubaix, but also at the Gent - Wevelgem, came 8th at the Classic Brugge - De Panne and sprinted just outside the podium at the Antwerp Port Epic. In his new team, Rex should once again focus at the cobbled classics while he should put his strong legs to use while setting up sprints for Soudal - Quick-Step's many fast men such as Tim Merlier or Paul Magnier in his other races.

"I’m glad that everything came together and I will ride for this team, which I have always admired since I was very young. I remember watching Tom Boonen attack on the Taaienberg – it’s one of the best memories I have since I was a kid. He’s someone I looked up to and I’m delighted I will get to ride in the same team as he did and for which he wrote history," Rex said in a press release.

"I know some of the guys on the team, and everyone here gave me a great welcome, making me feel immediately at home. It’s a dream come true to be here and I hope to make some important steps in my career as part of the Wolfpack. I want to help the team whenever they need me, become a better rider and reach my highest level, which I hope that one day will bring me close to a victory in Paris-Roubaix," explained Laurenz at the team’s first reunion of the off-season.

Rex wasn't always Quick-Step's first coice, but after a fall-out with Edward Planckaert who opted to ultimately renew in his current team Alpecin-Deceuninck, the Belgian was in search for a replacement of the experienced Belgian all-rounder. What they found on the chaotic transfer market after the confirmation of Lotto-Intermarché merger became official in Rex is no short of just what they wanted and needed.

The team manager Jurgen Foré couldn't hide his satisfaction with this outcome: "We’re delighted to have Laurenz join the squad. He’s a strong and ambitious rider, who’s already shown a lot of maturity and experience despite his young age. We know what he can do in the lead-out and when chasing his own results, and we’re confident he’ll bring real value – both in the Classics and as part of our stage racing setup," said Foré.