With focus on Evenepoel Soudal - Quick-Step may lose Fabio Jakobsen, BORA and DSM look to sign European Champion

Soudal - Quick-Step have several leaders but also choices to make. With Remco Evenepoel growing stronger and stronger on the mountainous and hilly races the team looks to provide support, Fabio Jakobsen in the meanwhile may not be on the plans for future seasons and he's already got teams interested.

Whilst the World Champion has already won the Vuelta a Espana, the support he has in the mountains is at the moment no match for Jumbo-Visma, UAE Team Emirates and INEOS Grenadiers. Quick-Step is a team traditionally focused in the classics and sprinters, which still make for the bulk of the team. Choices have to be made as Evenepoel now targets Grand Tour wins and will in the future race the Tour de France, and he will require new signings for the uphill terrain.

Julian Alaphilippe has vastly been commented on in recent months due to his lack of results for a high salary but he holds a contract until 2024. Fabio Jakobsen ends his this year, he has not been achieving as many wins as expected this year and with the team bringing in Tim Merlier, alongside the presence of Ethan Vernon and Davide Ballerini as secondary fast men, it could see the European Champion on his way out.

Jakobsen has been part of Quick-Step since 2018 and has spectacularly recovered from life threatening injuries when he crashed at the 2020 Tour de Pologne. It is said in a report from Wielerflits that the Dutchman has the interest of mainly BORA - hansgrohe, but also Team DSM in what could be one of the most meaningful transfers of the winter.