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Jumbo - QuickStep merger

Thought this deserved its own thread. Jumbo and QuickStep are working to merge.

 
A whole lot of contracted riders would have to leave.
I know, and I'm not sure how they're going to pull it off whilst abiding by UCI and national/European employment rules. But it seems beyond doubt that the merged team will be even stronger than this year's Jumbo team - and that was already arguably the most brokenly overpowered team this sport has ever seen.
 
Is it really so difficult for Jumbo to find new sponsors? That is the main gain for them.
Yes. Jumbo is at their absolute top. They've won all 3 Grand Tours this year and have been on the whole podium of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana.

From this point on, it only can get worse. No matter whether that's results wise or in view of doping scandals.

Nobody's going to invest into that powder keg, yet to detonate!
 
Thought this deserved its own thread. Jumbo and QuickStep are working to merge.

They have also published the story in English:

 
This has to be fake, surely? They'd need to jettison about 20 riders from their merged team.

And how in the name of f*ck is Evenepoel going to go to the TdF with Vingegaard? I mean Plugge said last week he'd like to work with Evenepoel but I didn't take his comment to mean literally, like next season.

Remco will be an invaluable domestique for Vingo on tricky, windy stages.
Rogla will be a mountain domestique.
Wout will be a domestique for any terrain.
Pogi had better prepare for the Giro instead!
 
What the hell is that? Okay, fine as long as Roglic goes to Lidl and Remco goes to Ineos I guess, that would not be so terrible. But I refuse to believe Vinge, Rog and Remco being on the same team will do anything good for the sport at all, and I refuse to believe that's actually what gonna happen if they merge.

Plugge wants Evenepoel. I don't see the point of merging with Quick Step just to see the big prized asset go elsewhere.
 
Is it really so difficult for Jumbo to find new sponsors? That is the main gain for them.
Depends what doping clauses Jumbo and Visma have on the sponsorship contract for the additional 2024 year. Most contracts have get-out clauses. Assuming Hessmann gets 4 years, it might simply be Plugge is out of time and a perfect scenario that Lefevre wants his retirement payout and Soudal want to step up to a Tour-winning level?