'It's Just the Beginning': Soudal-QuickStep's Cobbled Classics Revival and Their Road Ambitions

Belgium - Ekhbary News Agency

Soudal-QuickStep Charts a Course Back to Cobbled Glory

The cycling world is abuzz with the strategic shift at Soudal-QuickStep, a team long celebrated for its prowess in the one-day Classics. After a significant period prioritizing stage racing, largely influenced by the success of Remco Evenepoel, the Belgian squad is making a deliberate return to its heritage: the arduous and prestigious cobbled Classics. This strategic pivot is not merely a nostalgic nod to the past but a calculated investment in the team's future, reinforced by strategic new signings and the burgeoning ambitions of its young stars, notably French sprinter Paul Magnier.

Just five or six years ago, a declaration from Soudal-QuickStep CEO Jurgen Foré about the team's desire to 'win a major Classic' might have been met with mild indifference. For much of this century, and indeed tracing back to its ancestral roots in Mapei and GB-MG, the Belgian outfit was the undisputed benchmark for one-day racing excellence. The statistics speak volumes: a decade spanning 2006 to 2015 saw Patrick Lefevere's formidable blue-clad riders clinch four editions of both Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. Even following the retirement of their iconic Classics leader Tom Boonen in 2017, the Soudal-QuickStep cobbled Classics juggernaut continued its relentless charge, appearing almost invincible. Their most recent victories in the Flanders Classics include Kasper Asgreen's triumph in the Tour of Flanders in 2021, the same year Davide Ballerini secured the win at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

However, the meteoric rise of Remco Evenepoel, who captured the team's focus towards Grand Tour ambitions and stage racing, inevitably shifted the team's priorities. While Evenepoel himself has demonstrated remarkable talent in Classics like Liège-Bastogne-Liège (twice) and Clásica San Sebastián at a record-breaking young age, and Flèche Brabançonne as recently as last year, his success meant the team's deep-seated focus on the Spring Classics took a backseat. Nevertheless, as Foré emphasizes, the type of Classics racing closest to the heart of a team with strong Flemish ties is now firmly back on the agenda, and with considerable force.

This renewed commitment is evident in the team's recent recruitment drive. Signings such as Jasper Stuyven, a former Omloop winner, and Dylan van Baarle, the celebrated 2022 Paris-Roubaix champion and a renowned cobbled Classics specialist, have significantly elevated the profile and strength of the Classics roster. Yet, as the team seeks to prove its resurgence on its most cherished targets, the spotlight also falls on emerging talents. Young French sprinter Paul Magnier, fresh from winning two stages at the Volta ao Algarve and having already secured a runner-up finish at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad last season, represents one of the most exciting prospects for the upcoming Classics campaign.

Magnier himself articulated the team's renewed spirit: "Yeah, for sure, with the departure of Remco, it opens the door a bit more for the team to come back to the Classics mood, and then we can see that in the team with the recruitments of the new riders, too," he told Cyclingnews last week from Portugal. "I think we are all super motivated to do some good results and we did some good winter training, too, so I think it's going to be a really nice Classics period."

The team's rich history in the Classics is not just a source of inspiration but also offers tangible advantages. "The team's history in the Classics is really important, too," Magnier added. "The advice and knowledge of the directeurs sportifs who already raced all these races, the staff… I think everybody wants to give 100 per cent and do absolutely everything to put the riders in the best shape possible for these races. I strongly believe that as a Belgian team with such a long history of success in these Classics, this is the best way to get those results."

The opening weekend of the Belgian Classics, featuring Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the subsequent Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, often serves as a crucial barometer for the season ahead. For Soudal-QuickStep, these races are more than just early-season objectives; they are a vital testing ground to gauge their readiness and reaffirm their ambitions. "It's the moment everybody's waiting for, all the fans – it's the start of the Belgian Classics after the winter," Magnier commented. He also acknowledged the historical difficulty of winning both the Omloop and a major monument like Flanders or Roubaix in the same season, citing Greg Van Avermaet's 2017 double as a rare exception.

Despite the statistical challenges, Magnier stressed the psychological importance of a strong start. "But apart from the results, it's always really good to start this Classics period on the right path. Last year we started well with a second place there," he recalled, referring to his 2025 Omloop performance. "And then we won a lot of races in Belgium, we got close to victory in Gent-Wevelgem so even if we don't get the victory, a good start is really important just to be sure we are all racing with the same goal."

Magnier also highlighted the long-term vision for the team's Classics resurgence, noting that while the Omloop is a key starting point, the team's ambitions extend across multiple seasons. His own contract is secured until 2029, and Soudal's sponsorship is confirmed until at least 2030. "It's really important to start well in Omloop this year, but there are also many years to come where we can get those good results," he stated. "However, this can be a first box on the checklist for us to tick."

Crucially, Magnier revealed that his commitment to Soudal-QuickStep's "Classics Revival" project was a significant factor in his decision to sign a long-term deal. This indicates a genuine belief in the team's potential and a personal determination to contribute to its return to the pinnacle of cobbled racing. "Yeah, for sure, that was also a reason why I decided to sign," he confirmed. "Because I really feel the motivation around me and the trust that I can have from the team. Now we just have to continue to work on the best way and try to get the results."

Ekhbary News Agency