Soudal Quick-Step CEO Jurgen Foré has carved out the team's strategy in the wake of Remco Evenepoel's departure in the most detail since the transfer was finalised in August, drawing a clear distinction between the departed star and the riders who remain.
"Remco has made the decision to leave, and we have respected that under certain conditions," Foré told Het Laatste Nieuws. "There's nothing more to say about that. We are now entering an era without Remco. The riders currently in our team are eager to be here. They believe they can contribute something, and we can make them better."
The interview, published on January 17, offered the fullest picture yet of how the team has recalibrated following the loss of their double Olympic champion to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
How Evenepoel’s Red Bull Move Changed Soudal's Transfer Strategy
Foré confirmed that the majority of the team's 2026 signings were made on the assumption Evenepoel would stay.
"Most of the transfers we made were based on the assumption that Remco would stay with us," he said. "When it became clear he would leave, we added Filippo Zana and Alberto Dainese."
The late additions signal a shift back toward the team's traditional strengths. Zana, signed from Jayco AlUla, bolsters the squad's options in hilly one-day races, while Dainese joins from Tudor Pro Cycling as a third sprinter.
Foré also revealed the depth of his recruitment conversations, noting he spoke with approximately fifty interested riders during the transfer window.
The team's ambitions have been recalibrated accordingly. Foré outlined a vision centred on "winning major one-day races and stages in Grand Tours, seizing GC opportunities with young riders, and not forgetting the side classifications."
Though not mentioned in Foré's interview, an extension of Paul Magnier's contract to 2029 painted the young French rider as a central figure in the team's rebuild.
When asked which spring Classic represents a realistic target, Foré was direct: "Each. Why shouldn't we be able to win Liège? Or the Amstel? Our spring will be a success if we, as a team, are prominent in the races, are competitive for the win, and achieve an important victory."
The interview also provided rare transparency on the team's finances. Foré confirmed combined revenues for the men's and women's squads sit between €31 and €33 million, roughly unchanged from 2025.
He positioned Soudal-Quick Step in a group of six teams behind the sport's four biggest spenders: UAE Team Emirates, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Lidl-Trek and Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale.
Soudal's sponsorship has been extended through 2030, providing the team with long-term stability.
Specialized question looms
One lingering consequence of Evenepoel's departure concerns the team's equipment sponsor. The contract with Specialized enters its final year in 2026, and Evenepoel's move to another Specialized-backed team has complicated renewal discussions.
At the start of 2026, Evenepoel made clear how deep the link with Specialized ran, explaining, "When I go to speak with a team, it's you have to bring in Specialized, or you're not getting me." The podcast interview with Specialized made clear how closely the brand had worked with Evenepoel to fine-tune his equipment and position. Foré doesn't see the Specialized partnership hinging on Evenepoel, but expressed an openness in working with other partners.
"If there's an opportunity, we definitely want to continue working with them," Foré said. "However, there is interest from other cycling sponsors, and we will review every decision with the necessary testing."
He added: "I think Specialized is happy to work with us, but there's also an economic reality."
