Lanterne Rouge Cycling Podcast Soudal Quick-Step 2026 Preview
Dec 9, 2025
Patrick and Benji dive into the upcoming Soudal Quick-Step 2026 cycling season, reflecting on the team's 2025 performance. They discuss Remco Evenepoel's injury impact and analyze squad transitions, especially against rivals like Pogacar and Van der Poel. The hosts evaluate upcoming transfers and the potential of new signings, predicting their roles in cobbled classics and Grand Tours. They set ambitious goals for the season and debate the team's identity after Remco, while remaining optimistic about Quick-Step's future.
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Season Driven By Sprinters, Not Classics
- Soudal Quick-Step's 2025 season was a return to high-volume wins with 54 victories and 19 WorldTour wins.
- The team's results were heavily driven by strong sprinters rather than classics dominance or GC success.
Remco's Offseason Injury And Return
- Patrick recounts Remco Evenepoel's offseason injury from a car door incident that delayed his season.
- Remco returned to win BrabantsePaal but the injury impacted his consistency in big races.
Classics Aim: Respectability Not Dominance
- Evenepoel rode excellent one-day races but couldn't match Pogacar and van der Poel when they showed up.
- Quick-Step's classics competitiveness now seems to aim for respectability rather than dominance.