Jumbo - QuickStep merger

[Salvarani]

too many riders. probably I'm wrong but what Plugge needed is a sponsor, a backer. Remco was not the target. Soudal's money was the target. and Daniel Benson is also saying he talked with 2 WT managers of other teams and they think the merger is more possiboe for 2025 (cause in 2024 they'd have 50 riders under contract)
in 2024 Pinarello ends its Ineos deal, in 2025 Specialized and Remco sig for Ineos, and Soudal-Visma Visma-Soudal are ready to go (38 riders contracted for 2025)

With all those riders already contracted it makes a lot more sense for it to be delayed for another year or so.

Unless it is all men for themselves.

Why Jumbo went all out this year? Won all three GTs. One last hurrah, before going out of business.

 

[pastronef]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1706021183961882817

View: https://www.twitter.com/ttjash/status/1706021183961882817

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

What's the point of a merger exactly? I don't see that many QS riders that are interesting for Jumbo? Just looks like their main goal is poaching a sponsor (Soudal) and that Bakala/Lefevere really want to sell their team. Maybe there's a 3rd team involved somewhere.

Like who exactly are the winners of a merger? The current Jumbo guys and Soudal, no one at QS really.

You answer the question pretty well I think.
Plugge/Zeeman wins -> new sponsor secured
Lefevre/Bakala wins (or do they actually end up with money?) -> it seems they wanted out
Remco wins -> he get people with knowledge of how to build a successful GC season (or he can go to Ineos and get it there)
Even Roglic wins -> he can now stay with an even stronger team or this can be his ticket out

 

[Berniece]

What's the point of a merger exactly? I don't see that many QS riders that are interesting for Jumbo? Just looks like their main goal is poaching a sponsor (Soudal) and that Bakala/Lefevere really want to sell their team. Maybe there's a 3rd team involved somewhere.

Like who exactly are the winners of a merger? The current Jumbo guys and Soudal, no one at QS really.

At least: Evenepoel, Van Wilder, Lampaert, Asgreen, Merlier, Alaphilippe. Then maybe some doms too

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

If this merger happens I’m pretty sure Alaphilippe will be one of the guys leaving.

 

[Samamba]

At least: Evenepoel, Van Wilder, Lampaert, Asgreen, Merlier, Alaphilippe. Then maybe some doms too

Lampaert wouldn't even make selection for big races anymore
Alaphilippe definitely doesn't want this
Van Wilder would never be a leader in GT or even in WT stage races.
Merlier won't be able to do a single GT ever and won't even be able to be n 1 sprinter in a lot of other bigger races

Almost no one at QS benefits from this.
And Jumbo really doesn't care about most of these riders. Basically only Evenepoel.

You answer the question pretty well I think.
Plugge/Zeeman wins -> new sponsor secured
Lefevre/Bakala wins (or do they actually end up with money?) -> it seems they wanted out
Remco wins -> he get people with knowledge of how to build a successful GC season (or he can go to Ineos and get it there)
Even Roglic wins -> he can now stay with an even stronger team or this can be his ticket out

I really don't see how this is good for Remco with a better GT rider there. Maybe he's not scared of Vingegaard, so I wouldn't rule it out, but he would basically be the only rider benefitting.
Yes if Lefevere and Bakala get money they could just sell the team? Basically no one at QS benefits from this, it's just Plugge poaching Soudal, who always wanted to sponsor a top team. That's also the reason why they went to Lefevere, but maybe they realized it isn't what they expected (let's be honest Jumbo and UAE basically get 75% of all the attention).

 

[pastronef]

If this merger happens I’m pretty sure Alaphilippe will be one of the guys leaving.

if 2 WT managers of rival teams (asked by Benson) probably had some hints about the merger, I think riders and agents did too. it's been worked behind cosed doors, but it's not just this week and they want us to believe. if it happens, the deals, most of them, are already in place for many riders, sposnors and staff

 

[Extinction]

I don't want to take credit for anything, but, if it were to happen, I spotted it when pointing out that Plugge said he "wants to work with Remco" in a post Vuelta interview.

 

[theyoungest]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1706011712481087607

View: https://www.twitter.com/Ajax4Keer/status/1706011712481087607

That's not unusual, it's pretty rare that a scoop is one hundred percent correct. The story usually gets fleshed out in the following days and weeks.

I think 2025 makes most sense... if it's at all true, of course.

 

[KenFiamingo]

Nothing to be worried about. I heard Jerome Pineau is working on the deal.

 

[Berniece]

Lampaert wouldn't even make selection for big races anymore
Alaphilippe definitely doesn't want this
Van Wilder would never be a leader in GT or even in WT stage races.
Merlier won't be able to do a single GT ever and won't even be able to be n 1 sprinter in a lot of other bigger races

I meant riders that Jumbo would like, not riders that are interested in the merger. But to go further on your comment.

Nathan is gone and I feel Lampaert/Asgreen are better riders than him so I don’t understand why they would suddenly not ride big races anymore.

No clue why Alaphilippe wouldn’t want this.

Van Wilder won’t ride a GT as leader but has time to develop some more. Isn’t leader material anyway at the moment.

Merlier and Kooij will definitely ride a GT, just not TDF. Isn’t the plan that Kooij wil ride Giro next year? If he can do that why wouldn’t Merlier? He’s faster.

 

[Extinction]

Shades of the Hinault-Lemond duo at La Vie Claire. Wouldn't it be nice seeing Remco and Vingegaard riding up Alpe d'Huez at training pace arm-in-arm for victory. Ha, 😂!

 

[Samamba]

Nathan is gone and I feel Lampaert/Asgreen are better riders than him so I don’t understand why they would suddenly not ride big races anymore.

I didn't mention Agreen for a reason, Lampaert is just super overrated and Jumbo has way better riders already.

No clue why Alaphilippe wouldn’t want this.

If there's any rider in the world that wouldn't fit in a Jumbo style team it's Alaphilippe

Van Wilder won’t ride a GT as leader but has time to develop some more. Isn’t leader material anyway at the moment.

Van Wilder will just be a dom in almost every race. They would have plenty of better GC riders than him. He does not want to be a full domestique, he has made that clear. The only reason why he re signed at QS was because he got guarantees about being able to do his own thing in a lot of races. It doesn't matter if you think he's leader material or not, he wants to get his chances.

Merlier and Kooij will definitely ride a GT, just not TDF. Isn’t the plan that Kooij wil ride Giro next year? If he can do that why wouldn’t Merlier? He’s faster.

Kooij wasn't even able to ride a GT this year??? Yes he got the guarantee he can ride one, there's just no way they're gonna go with a sprinter in 2 GTs and no they won't take Merlier over Kooij.

It's also all besides the point, most of those riders do not really improve Jumbo's roster at all, they are not necessary. With more money they can get better riders and riders that fit better in the team. That's my point. They need to sponsor, not the riders (apart from Evenepoel sure).

 

[noob]

So aghasting

 

[samhocking]

they are after a sponsor for when Jumbo leaves. in the Wilierflits piece Jumbo is not mentioned with the new name. it's Visma-Soudal, or Soudal-Visma
Plugge needs a sponsor. the Jumbo remaining sponsors (Visma, Cervelo etc) made clear to Plugge in the past months they didnt want to be associated with a Saudi baker (Neom) and probably Plugge thought it was better not to be associated with the Saudi regime. so first thing first: get a backer. Remco and Specialized might have different ideas about the merger

Yep, Plugge needs a sponsor, Soudal wants to step upeed GT winners, I doubt for Soudal, it's that important who wins, so long as a Soudal rider wins, same as it isn't really important who wins for jumbo, so long as it was a Jumbo rider. This is a perfect merger because it kind of solved the problem of Remco and Plugge in one go. Obviously some staff are potentially out of a job though if the excess licence isn't being taken up by a new sponsor/team anyway.

That's not unusual, it's pretty rare that a scoop is one hundred percent correct. The story usually gets fleshed out in the following days and weeks.

I think 2025 makes most sense... if it's at all true, of course.

I don't know, you think all the riders out of contract for 2024 in each team will want to sign just a one year contract, simply to support two teams that didn't want to sign them for 2024 already, then have more time to do a merger? I think such a merger only makes sense to do right now while riders are out of contract. It will save a stack of cash for each team. Likewise, any more new incoming signings such as Landa are surely on hold if this is going ahead.

 

[Potomac]

Perfect time for McDonalds to step up and sponsor a team.

 

[Samamba]

HLN says that it is confirmed to them that there are talks between Jumbo and QS, but it is far from a done deal. 2024 seems unlikely, 2025 is a bigger possibility. Jumbo isn't in a hurry cause Jumbo will still sponsor in 2024, but if a big opportunity arises now they wouldn't say no. ¨Plugge has other options too, including one big company that could take over from Jumbo. That option would be way easier than a merger.

 

[pastronef]

if the excess licence isn't being taken up by a new sponsor/team anyway.

will the WT license go to the top Pro team? so Lotto
or anyone can buy it? Israel, Uno-X, Tudor, even Lotto

 

[Ricco']

There is a certain Dutch continental team, who wants to be ProConti next season, and so far only has 2 listed guys for next season. Lots of room there.

 

[Cookster15]

What an utter disaster for the sport this would be. Competition improves the breed and it improves the products. Let's hope this doesn't happen.

 

[staubsauger]

will the WT license go to the top Pro team? so Lotto
or anyone can buy it? Israel, Uno-X, Tudor, even Lotto

Polti could be interested if they get Bramati and some riders like Alaphilippe.

Maybe the Saudis buy the 2nd license (unlikely).

A new sponsor or a comeback sponsor like Festina could buy the 2nd license and build a team with Bramati and/or Alaphilippe.

Maybe Plugged leaked the merger story to pressure the big company they're in talks with to put pen to paper.

Lots of options really. Only speculation as long as nothing is rounded off.

 

[Izzyeviel]

with 17 WT teams, does this mean Lotto get promoted?

 

[Filippo_3467]

Hypothetically, Ineos and Movistar still have a bunch of spots open for all the excess riders. Still, businesswise this is a logistical nightmare with a severe time constraint. Makes me doubtful

I mean that merger is a nightmare for the sport but of course Soudal-Visma won't be the 30 best riders from both teams. A lot of riders probably want out under the new circumstances. Probably having Remco in the new team is a must for the merger to happen but I'm not sure with other riders. Jorgensen, Tulett and Landa didn't sign their papers with the knowledge that it is unlikely that they make the Tour or Giro team. Or if they make it because all captains stay what is with Kooij? Van Wilder also isn't needed anymore as a last domestique. Does Lampaert even make the Roubaix squad?

If they want to make it happen for 24 some serious names have to find new teams. Bora has only 22 riders, ineos 15, ef 23 and Movistar 7. But I think only Ineos and Bora would have the bucks to make something happen here. the easiest way would be to let Roglic out (+Tratnik) and thin out the sprint and classics roster. Roglic + domestiques to Ineos and Bora could invest in a classic squad as they are light there and a nother GT win is out of the questions for now - I would think that Alaphilippe, Lamperti, Merlier, Pedersen, Vansevenant, Afini - even Asgreen or Valter could be on the market in that scenario.

In the end the sport looses. Really unpleasant news.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

I think Primoz would never leave Jumbo Visma (his current team)…

He‘s like, „I‘m everything I am, because you love(d) me“, to Plugge, Niermann, Zeeman, Vinge, Kuss, and all his guys. Primoz is unique, and JV is „his“ team.

Everyone thought, Pogacar would be the real deal for TdF GC for the next 15 years. Suddenly Vingegaard arrived, and Pogacar’s days of TdF champion were over and gone.

That exactly now could happen to Vinge, next year. If Vingegaard doesn‘t have the watts, Primoz will be there, to win his first Tour.

Remco will be a big questionmark. No idea what‘s left for him. And the epic Tourmalet 27min loss of 2023 Vuelta won’t help him.

You never know what happens: crashes, illness, Covid, and so on. With Vinge-Rog-Remco, a future team would have one guy in any case who could win the Tour.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I can't wait for Ilmaestro's reaction when Masnada is forced to dom for Belgian Pozzato.