Soudal-Quickstep have seen their reign within the Spring Classics fade lately with the rise of Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar and their deal with constructing a crew behind Remco Evenepoel’s Grand Tour ambitions. However veteran Yves Lampaert says the scenario isn’t a catastrophe.
In 2021, Quickstep gained the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Davide Ballerini), Brugge-De Panne (Sam Bennett), E3 Saxo Basic (Kasper Asgreen), Tour of Flanders (Kasper Asgreen), and La Flèche Wallonne (Julian Alaphilippe).
Since Evenepoel took up one-day racing in 2022, he is gained Liège-Bastogne-Liège twice, and Tim Merlier has gained Nokere Koerse in 2023 and this yr, however the crew have in any other case struggled within the Spring Classics.
Talking on the Belgian discuss present Vive le vélo, Lampaert admitted the crew has ceded management in what was once their area. “You’ve got guys like Van der Poel, Van Aert or Pedersen who’re superior. And we can’t make our mark,” Lampaert mentioned.
“We not dictate the race like we used to. That is not enjoyable. However in the long run: in Gent-Wevelgem there have been two males in entrance and behind them was a bunch of about 40 riders, of which there have been 5 of us. In order that was how not disastrous it was.
“However it’s true that we not resolve what occurs within the race like we used to. That’s tough to simply accept in the intervening time.”
The adjustments have are available in each aims and recruiting, with Patrick Lefevere letting go of longtime Classics stalwarts like Ballerini, Florian Sénéchal, and Tim Declercq over the previous two years. A dozen veteran riders left the crew by switch or retirement, and Lampaert says the incoming riders are younger and want time to develop.
“You’ve got younger guys like Paul Magnier, Luke Lamperti or William Junior Lecerf who’re doing nice. In Gent-Wevelgem, Gil Gelders additionally rode within the closing as a first-year skilled. I feel it nonetheless wants a while to let these guys flourish,” Lampaert mentioned.
The crew can even take coronary heart in outcomes like Evenepoel’s total win within the Volta ao Algarve and second place in Paris-Good this yr and his stage wins within the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España, along with his Vuelta total victory in 2022.
“In different areas, issues are going very properly,” Lampaert mentioned. “Mikel Landa [who joined the team this year] completed second within the Volta a Catalunya and Remco Evenepoel is phenomenal.”
The 32-year-old Lampaert is a two-time winner of Dwars door Vlaanderen – which he shall be racing once more tomorrow – and a podium finisher in Paris-Roubaix in 2019. His most up-to-date Classics end result was a podium in De Panne final yr, and he confirmed himself within the assaults late within the Bredene Koksijde Basic.
Lampaert is hoping to indicate the crew’s colors within the upcoming Classics.
“In fact, I’d additionally like to indicate myself once more. That shall be very tough within the Tour of Flanders,” he mentioned. “That has turn out to be a phenomenally tough race and I do not know if now we have the ability for that. For me, that shall be tough. However I hope to be there in Paris-Roubaix.”
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