News began spreading recently that Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step are in discussions about forming a merge staff from 2024.
It appears that Richard Plugge will change into the staff’s CEO, Merijn Zeeman turns into head coach, whereas Patrick Lefevere turns into a member of the staff’s Supervisory Board. According to insiders, it is just a matter of time earlier than this spectacular and shocking merge is accomplished.
When it turned clear throughout the final Tour de France that Jim Ratcliffe was in talks to take over Patrick Lefevere’s staff with Ineos, the administration of Jumbo-Visma got here up with the concept of to speak to Zdenek Bakala, proprietor of Soudal Quick-Step.
After a gathering in Geneva with Bakala, a foundation was rapidly created to comprehend this large and most shocking merge in cycling. The concept of a merge staff was additionally instantly embraced by the important sponsors of each groups, Soudal and Visma.
Financially and sportingly, this may be a powerful union, giving the staff much more assets.
The new staff, which shall be registered with the UCI as Visma-Soudal or Soudal-Visma, can work with a aggressive finances from 2024 to proceed to compete at the cycling’s high. The staff desires to profile itself as a Benelux staff in the peloton. While the sporting administration shall be in the palms of Plugge and Zeeman, Lefevere will supervise from the Supervisory Board.
Patrick Lefevere is now 68 years previous and has lately made it identified in public that he would reasonably be lively in a distinct position in the staff. He may have this chance in this new development with a supervisory position.
Jumbo-Visma at present employs 27 riders and Soudal Quick-Step 23 riders for 2024. It remains to be unclear whether or not this merger clears the approach for Remco Evenepoel to affix INEOS Grenadiers. Internally, each events have expressed the need of the new staff to proceed with Evenepoel. The query, nevertheless, is whether or not you may put so many high riders like Remco Evenepoel, Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert into identical staff.
Source link
