Soudal - Quick Step Thread

[Salvarani]

@Salvarani

The core and results was always build around classics & Co. Landa and a talented youngsters should do fine, regarding GT GC.

It hasnt been their core in the last two-three years. It has been all about Remco and signing riders to support his GC ambitions. You been saying they should just replace him with Almeida and stick with this strategy. Be more of a GC-team.

It seems to be completely opposite of what they have been doing in the past and I cant agree with you there.

They have failed miserably in the classics for last couple of seasons. Maybe that will change now with focusing more on those races again. Signing new riders for it. Reshaping their roster. Having a more classics and sprinter oriented team, while also having some riders for hilly races. Then someone on the roster who can do a GC without many supporting riders or fight for the win in mountain stages.

While still trying to find great young talents and developing them.

They backed Remco and elevated him, he won a lot for them, but now they will be more focused on building an overall better team. Wins and results coming from many riders. Like what has mostly been their way of doing things, which have been very successful.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Salvarani

That is basically what they have already been doing all along.

 

[Salvarani]

@Salvarani

That is basically what they have already been doing all along.

No, they havent and as said I disagree.

 

[CyclistAbi]

No, they havent and as said I disagree.

If you would value Remco for the type of rider he developed in an what he achieved, at SOQ, not what some fans wanted him to be, then you would see they have already been doing it exactly as you wrote they should now be doing it, after Remco will leave. Remco even did lead outs for the sprinter at the Tour.

Anyway, a big pay check is now in and i am sure that some of that money will be geared toward talent in terms of GT GC, paired with Landa & Co.

 

[Salvarani]

If you would value Remco for the type of rider he developed in an what he achieved, at SOQ, not what some fans wanted him to be, then you would see they have already been doing it exactly as you wrote they should now be doing it, after Remco will leave. Remco even did lead outs for the sprinter at the Tour.

Anyway, a big pay check is now in and i am sure that some of that money will be geared toward talent in terms of GT GC, paired with Landa & Co.

I disagree very much with that. They backed Remco and he gave them a lot of success, but now they have to focus more on the team rather than one great rider.

And I dont think they will do that. The moves they have made so far regarding transfers points more towards what I am talking about.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Salvarani

They basically need two now, one good at classics & Co. and one reasonably good at stage racing and they already have a sprinter. Almeida, or somebody in similar position in search for more leadership role, for example, would do the stage racing part.

 

[Salvarani]

@Salvarani

They basically need two now, one good at classics & Co. and one reasonably good at stage racing and they already have a sprinter. Almeida, or somebody in similar position in search for more leadership role, for example, would do the stage racing part.

Just no.

Almeida should not be going to them now.

And they should not try to sign a new GC-leader of that stature.

I dont think they will as everything points towards them becoming more sprinter and classics oriented again, which they should be doing. Thats their identity as a team.

They wont be focusing on GC as much. They will be more opportunistic regarding that going forward with signings and new talents, which is how they used to do it. Someone always used to emerge, but then they moved on to a real GC-team. As SQS were mostly focused on retaining their sprinters and classics core. GC was always a side quest.

The question for me is if they will be able to get their hands on these young talents anymore though. They were better at that in the last decade, than in recent years. Cycling has changed a lot from the last decade. Especially the fight to sign the best talents.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Salvarani

Of course they should otherwise they will become a goose on the loose kind of team, clear downgrade.

 

[Salvarani]

@Salvarani

Of course they should otherwise they will become a goose on the loose kind of team, clear downgrade.

?

No, they dont.

And that depends on if they will be able to be successful in the classics and the big bunch sprints again. One-day races and stage-hunting. This will/should be their main objective again.

We will see.

 

[AmRacer]

?

No, they dont.

And that depends on if they will be able to be successful in the classics and the big bunch sprints again. One-day races and stage-hunting. This will/should be their main objective again.

We will see.

Tim is sprinting quite good.

 

[Salvarani]

Tim is sprinting quite good.

He has, but in the classics they have been nowhere. As a collective they havent performed in the races, which used to be their bread and butter for many years.

 

[red_flanders]

I disagree very much with that. They backed Remco and he gave them a lot of success, but now they have to focus more on the team rather than one great rider.

And I dont think they will do that. The moves they have made so far regarding transfers points more towards what I am talking about.

Of course, because what you're responding to is complete nonsense.

I'm not sure what the goal is of these ongoing efforts to re-write the SQS team history and categorize Evenepoel as a classics rider. The notion that being a GT rider was "something the fans wanted him to be" is either delusional, ignorant, or straight up astro-turfing. He personally stated "winning all three GT's" as his main career goal as soon as he became a pro. This has been repeated to this member many times, and the fact that they're ignoring that fact (and a dozen others) suggests to me that this is an intentional effort to astro-turf this topic.

Can't figure out the "why", but it's a campaign across multiple threads to paint things in this light. Obviously Evenepoel is a rider for both GT's and Classics, having won both in impressive fashion. Much like champions of previous eras. SQS made a concerted, public, and obvious effort to reshape the team around Remco. They were open and clear about it, and their signings reflected it during Evenepoel's tenure there. As did the signings they attempted and failed to secure. Their signings this summer have reflected the knowledge that he was leaving, and their goal of getting back to the team's roots. They have stated THIS as well, recognizing a change from the GT direction with Evenepoel...again.

These are undisputed facts, but for some reason there is a prolific effort to re-write this history by one poster.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Of course, because what you're responding to is complete nonsense.

I'm not sure what the goal is of these ongoing efforts to re-write the SQS team history and categorize Evenepoel as a classics rider. The notion that being a GT rider was "something the fans wanted him to be" is either delusional, ignorant, or straight up astro-turfing. He personally stated "winning all three GT's" as his main career goal as soon as he became a pro. This has been repeated to this member many times, and the fact that they're ignoring that fact (and a dozen others) suggests to me that this is an intentional effort to astro-turf this topic.

Can't figure out the "why", but it's a campaign across multiple threads to paint things in this light. Obviously Evenepoel is a rider for both GT's and Classics, having won both in impressive fashion. Much like champions of previous eras. SQS made a concerted, public, and obvious effort to reshape the team around Remco. They were open and clear about it, and their signings reflected it during Evenepoel's tenure there. As did the signings they attempted and failed to secure. Their signings this summer have reflected the knowledge that he was leaving, and their goal of getting back to the team's roots. They have stated THIS as well, recognizing a change from the GT direction with Evenepoel...again.

These are undisputed facts, but for some reason there is a prolific effort to re-write this history by one poster.

So in short the reason Remco switched teams has nothing to do with switching to a (hopefully for him) a GT GC team? And secondly Remco hence was a great stage racer at SOQ due to him saying he wants to win all three GTs. That hence is the criteria and not the results he achieved at SOQ. Results in terms of greatness and consistency. He clearly became one of the best stage racers in history, when riding for SOQ.

 

[Salvarani]

So in short the reason Remco switched teams has nothing to do with switching to a (hopefully for him) a GT GC team? And secondly Remco hence was a great stage racer at SOQ due to him saying he wants to win all three GTs. That hence is the criteria and not the results he achieved at SOQ. Results in terms of greatness and consistency. He clearly became one of the best stage racers in history, when riding for SOQ.

Huh? No. You clearly missed the point again of that post.

SQS adapted to Remco when he came through and built their team around him pretty soon. They backed his ambitions, GTs included.

However, their classics squad deteriorated as their old core either left or retired. Hence the lack of success in that department in recent years for them.

Now that Remco has left. They will try to pivot back into what they know and has had success in.

Not sign another GC leader and continue to target GC for GTs with them.

One of the best stage racers in history? LOL.

 

[CyclistAbi]

But i get it guys, some of you don't want for SOQ to sign Almeida as that would endanger free Landa, some of you don't want for SOQ to sign Almeida due to believing Pogi still needs him and thirdly some don't want for SOQ with Almeida to beat Remco and RBH at the Tour in the next couple of years.

Fair enough i listened so here me out, SOQ should sign Cian. Lets face it at Visma that is a dead end, whatever he did he paid for it and it's time to move on and to forget and forgive, under Landa he would likely start to shine at the Tour, or better, he would even see the Tour. Belgium and beyond would dig the whole story, lost son returned and ultimately SOQ wouldn't fall in obscurity, when it comes to GC racing.

Patrick did it all already and even he knew, without GC racing all the wins won't satisfy you. He traded it all just for a chance with Remco.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Salvarani

You basically said the same thing as i did. In the last sentence you even laugh at basically what
@red_flanders wrote.

 

[Salvarani]

@Salvarani

You basically said the same thing as i did. In the last sentence you even laugh at basically what
@red_flanders wrote.

No, I am saying the exact same thing as @red_flanders.

You seem to be missing what everybody else is saying.

 

[CyclistAbi]

No, I am saying the exact same thing as @red_flanders.

You seem to be missing what everybody else is saying.

No you are not. @red_flanders claims it's all nosnesne, on how i want to rewrite history and then you laugh at Remco stage racing achievements when ridding for SOQ. So if Remco is great, his carrer at SOQ, but it's not due to stage racing i feel that any sensible person can connect the dots, the rest is delusion.

 

[Salvarani]

No you are not. @red_flanders claims it's all nosnesne, on how i want to rewrite history and then you laugh at Remco stage racing achievements when ridding for SOQ. So if Remco is great but it's not due to stage racing i feel that any sensible person can connect the dots, the rest is delusion.

Yes I am. @red_flanders and I seem to agree quite a lot here in the current discussion of SQS. Past and present.

He is claiming what you are saying is all nonsense.

I didnt laugh at his achievements. I laughed at you calling him one of the best stage racers in history.

 

[CyclistAbi]

He is claiming what you are saying is all nonsense.

His argument being that Remco said he wants to win all 3 GTs.

I didnt laugh at his achievements. I laughed at you calling him one of the best stage racers in history.

Like that is not the same thing.

 

[Salvarani]

His argument being that Remco said he wants to win all 3 GTs.



Like that is not the same thing.

You are just changing the discussion now and it is getting tedious.

To conclude... SQS will not sign a new GC leader and they will be less focused on GC, especially when it comes to GTs. They might have a rider that get a free role to do something, but that will be that.

After Remco... they will focus more on classics, sprints and one-day races again with different riders. Ride as the team did after his abandon in the Tour. The wins will spread out.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Salvarani

Just like they did with Remco, at least in term of biggest results. As for GT GC option, we'll see, IMHO they will keep it.

 

[Salvarani]

@Salvarani

Just like they did with Remco, at least in term of biggest results. As for GT GC option, we'll see, IMHO they will keep it.

But they didnt do this! We dont agree on it!

They only supported Remco in the biggest races. Signed more support for him with ambition for GC.

They let the rest of their team deteriorate and they havent been a factor in classics for years.

They will not focus on GT GC but might have a rider that can do well, but it is a side quest for the team only. Like before with Uran, De La Cruz, Mas, Almeida... who all also left because SQS were always focused on keeping their classics core first until Remco happened. Mostly because he was one of the bigger talents from Belgium to emerge in a long time and they are a Belgian team. They had a lot of success together but they will move on now... or back in their case to their roots. Most thinks so.

 

[hayneplane]

You are just changing the discussion now and it is getting tedious.

To conclude... SQS will not sign a new GC leader and they will be less focused on GC, especially when it comes to GTs. They might have a rider that get a free role to do something, but that will be that.

After Remco... they will focus more on classics, sprints and one-day races again with different riders. Ride as the team did after his abandon in the Tour. The wins will spread out.

That seems obvious to me though as was said by Patrick Broe on their podcast yesterday that the old Wolfpack style is not effective any more when the two aliens are so far above the rest and blowing the race up from 2 hours out from the finish denying anticipating moves.

In the short term their best chance of a big win is Magnier wining a mid sized group sprint in a less selective edition of Gent-Wevelgem similar to the year Girmay won.

I think they will try and bring in a rider who can compete for top 5s in smaller world tour stage races and top 10s in the bigger ones but without any dedicated team support.

 

[Salvarani]

That seems obvious to me though as was said by Patrick Broe on their podcast yesterday that the old Wolfpack style is not effective any more when the two aliens are so far above the rest and blowing the race up from 2 hours out from the finish denying anticipating moves.

In the short term their best chance of a big win is Magnier wining a mid sized group sprint in a less selective edition of Gent-Wevelgem similar to the year Girmay won.

I think they will try and bring in a rider who can compete for top 5s in smaller world tour stage races and top 10s in the bigger ones but without any dedicated team support.

They will try to improve on their classics squad and be more present in those races. More riders in the finale etc.

The last part of your post is exactly what I am getting at, but it wont be a big priority. More nice to have, than crucial for them.