I agree with this and am just left wondering with Van Wilder's, I don't want to say brazen declarations, but certainly boldly determined affirmations (which he has every right to express, mind you); at which point does patient collaboration become problematical internal rivalry? And what does this mean for Soudal-QS's immediate plans (probably very manageable) and those over say the next say 5 years (likely progressively less manageable). As you correctly observed, Ineos and then Jumbo-Visma have normally dealt with the issue by offering too lucrative contracts to turn down for guys who, yes, know they could be team leaders elsewhere, but on lower salaries and unlikely able to win big against the riders they've been hired to ride for in supporting roles.It is a big ask to tell someone they will have to basically give up their own ambitions in the long run.
I could see Van Wilder playing along this season, because he is still at a stage where he is developing. He has started this season very good and if he continues to improve he will naturally want more. His contract expires at the end of this year. Maybe a team will try to offer him a deal and tempt him to leave with a promise of leadership. Lefevre will need a much bigger budget to keep his riders and pay them to be happy with being a supporting rider for Remco. Thats what UAE, Jumbo and Ineos are doing. Signing and piling up on GC-riders that could easily have been leaders on another team. In a sense, Ineos has in a way already adopted a sort "wolf-pack" strategy how they go into most races. They have 3-4 for options in almost every race.
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