Jumbo - QuickStep merger

[Tim Cahill]

Beyond respective rider strengths or how I feel about individual riders it's very sad to see the end of institutions that have a long history and have become embedded within the architecture of the sport.

JV to some, Rabobank to me, perhaps Kwantum–Decosol as well as Mapei/Omega-Pharma/QSD are part of cycling tradition and it would be sad to see this somewhat eroded. It is, as they said, downward pressure from the wealth of nation states.

On a more immediate note, as said, Evenepoel, Roglic, Vingegaard, WVA, the town isn't big enough for the four of them.

 

[Rackham]

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?

I heard some of Jumbo's sponsors didn't want a Saudi main sponsor (after there was talk of Saudi's taking over the team earlier this year). So this merger could be a way around the problem of finding new investment.

Sucks for the layoffs though (& there will be a few).

I could start to speculate here & also suggest Evenepoel could be convinced by this new-Jumbo to go to the Giro instead of the Tour. If he stays of course.

 

[roundabout]

Need to have initial paperwork and finances by UCI's September deadline (extended to November if sponsor/paperwork issues). It makes sense what Bruyneel said that a new team was registered for next year because most-likely the Soudal & Jumbo licence will end as currently registered for 2024 and one will be sold off, one will become Soudal-Visma.

Wouldn't that imply that the merger would essentially be done? As I doubt that UCI would be interested in some pie-in-the sky roadmap concept thing.

I do not get impression that the merger is done (or close to being done) from the news piece.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I could start to speculate here & also suggest Evenepoel could be convinced by this new-Jumbo to go to the Giro instead of the Tour. If he stays of course.

Do you think Giro or Tour would be the best to combine with the Olympics if you really want to have a go at a GT and win in Paris? I have no idea.

 

[zlev11]

both teams have a development team, obviously those would merge as well. what stops them from moving some veteran riders to that team? maybe that's how they get to 30 riders.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Why? Its two teams merging, its not Remco and Roglic merging. What the hell are you on about as per usual?

For heavens sake this is all about Rogla and Remco merging. No wonder logic was quiet.

 

[ice&fire]

For heavens sake this is all about Rogla and Remco merging. No wonder logic was quiet.

Surely Roglic can still wheelsuck Remco if they become teammates

 

[samhocking]

Wouldn't that imply that the merger would essentially be done? As I doubt that UCI would be interested in some pie-in-the sky roadmap concept thing.

I do not get impression that the merger is done (or close to being done) from the news piece.

Who knows. Teams don't actually have a lot of physical assets to complicate merging, the assets are the licence, the riders and sponsor contracts everything else is simply leased vehicles and an industrial unit (although Jumbo are a little unique with their several million euro sports science HQ they built recently). Most lower-level staff will be on freelance basis I'd imagine, can't believe anyone other than the top sports and medical staff are salary or contracted anyway.

 

[ManicJack]

What is the true number of riders under contract for next year between the two teams? One person saying 38 and another saying 50????

 

[Rackham]

Do you think Giro or Tour would be the best to combine with the Olympics if you really want to have a go at a GT and win in Paris? I have no idea.

I think the part Evenepoel should be most interested in is working with Mathieu Heijboer (head of performance at Jumbo). He's the guy who made Vingegaard what he is.

I'm just speculating but if Heijboer & his staff drew up a plan for Evenepoel to become the best GC rider in the world, I'm pretty certain he'd listen - no matter what his previous goals for 2024 were.

That would mean following their plan.

 

[roundabout]

What is the true number of riders under contract for next year between the two teams? One person saying 38 and another saying 50????

38 for 2025
50 for 2024

 

[ManicJack]

38 for 2025
50 for 2024

If that is correct there is no way this is true unless a third team is involved to step into the WT and absorb a bunch of those riders.

 

[pastronef]

this absolutely sucks

Jumbo is in need of a sponsor. Levefere and Bakala have been trying to sell for a while. things that happen

 

[ManicJack]

Anyone know how many riders Q36.5 have under contract for next year?

 

[zlev11]

Jumbo is in need of a sponsor. Levefere and Bakala have been trying to sell for a while. things that happen

ok? it still sucks.

 

[The Clogger]

Evenepoel should work for Vingegaard here.

 

[Salvarani]

Maybe Remco finally can fulfill his prophecy now. It all works out.

 

[Berniece]

I don’t see an issue with this, it’s a plan to make sure they stay relevant in the future

 

[Salvarani]

Evenepoel should work for Vingegaard here.

Will he work for Wout though?

 

[pastronef]

Anyone know how many riders Q36.5 have under contract for next year?

22 as per Procyclingstats

 

[Aimar16]

Wielerflits are usually very reliable when it comes to their scoops.

I still doubt that this merger will happen next year, or ever. Just like the merger of INEOS and QS that the same author of this article called for two months ago

 

[pastronef]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1706000685366432149

View: https://www.twitter.com/renovandael/status/1706000685366432149

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Damn

 

[Rackham]

Evenepoel should work for Vingegaard here.

Everyone should work for his lordship Jonas. All hail Vingegaard. The boss.

In all seriousness if this doesn't get denied in like literally 3,2,1 (aka a few minutes from now, or at least this evening & most certainly tomorrow), we're going to have to assume it's true.

What a sh*t way for Rog's Jumbo career to come to an end. Because I'm pretty much certain this would absolutely be the end of his time at Jumbo right here if this story is true.

 

[Salvarani]

Poor Landa