Soudal-QuickStep Reflects on Remco Evenepoel’s Departure and Sets Sights on Another Tour de France Victory

Just as a thick mist covered the Luchon-Superbagnères climb at the Tour de France, the mood turned grim for Soudal-QuickStep. They lost their ace, Remco Evenepoel, early in the race on stage 14. This was a major setback since they had high hopes of competing for the General Classification (GC) with Evenepoel and securing stage wins with sprinter Tim Merlier.

Evenepoel’s struggles began on the challenging Col du Tourmalet, following two tough days in the Pyrenees. After realizing he wasn’t feeling well, he left the race to focus on recovering. Tom Steels, Soudal’s sports director, explained the decision: “He didn’t have the legs to push through. It’s wiser to recover for future goals.”

Evenepoel had been recovering from a serious injury after a cycling accident last winter. Although the team hasn’t disclosed specific reasons for his lack of performance, it was clear something was amiss. His teammates received the signal to race independently after his withdrawal, highlighting the quick change in strategy for the team.

Ilan Van Wilder, one of Evenepoel’s teammates, noted the team’s disappointment: “It’s not nice for him, and it’s not nice for us.” With Evenepoel out, Soudal-QuickStep’s best chance now lies with Merlier on stage 17 or through a breakaway strategy.

Looking forward, Evenepoel’s next targets will be the Clásica San Sebastián and the World Championships, where he hopes to shine. “He’s the world champion and these are his next goals,” Steels added. This cautious approach may help him avoid further injuries and preserve his season.

As the Tour progresses, Soudal-QuickStep aims to adapt their strategy to salvage some success. Van Wilder expressed a hopeful outlook, saying, “We’ll try to make the last week enjoyable. Hopefully, we can take another stage win.”

This setback for Soudal-QuickStep is a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in competitive sports. Recovery and strategy adjustments are crucial. Every single race shapes the path forward, demanding resilience from both athletes and teams.



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