Remco Evenepoel has spoken for the primary time in regards to the proposed merger between Jumbo-Visma and Soudal-QuickStep, saying: “We get zero info and due to this fact haven’t any solutions.”
Talking to Het Laatste Nieuws, Evenepoel didn’t reveal the place his future lies, regardless of that call being a vital issue within the final result of any takeover.
Evenepoel reportedly had talks with the Jumbo-Visma staff administration final week and Ineos Grenadiers are eager to signal him to bolster their Grand Tour ambitions. Nonetheless, if Patrick Lefevere manages to create a ‘remnant staff’ from the ashes of Soudal-QuickStep after the takeover and retains the present WorldTour licence, Evenepoel could be underneath contract, making it far harder for him to go away.
Evenepoel is in Italy to experience Il Lombardia on Saturday and appeared to share the frustration of teammate Ilan Van Wilder, who mentioned “We don’t agree with all this shit, and we wish to proceed Soudal-QuickStep” after profitable the Tre Valli Varesine on Tuesday.
“We simply do not know something,” Evenepoel advised HLN in a video interview.
“I solely know what you realize, what you write. In the meanwhile there are solely query marks, for everybody. All we are able to do is wait. And hope it seems nicely. We can’t estimate what is going to come our means within the subsequent ten days or two weeks.”
The UCI made it clear that the groups concerned within the merger should respect rider and workers contracts and the principles of governance. In addition they made it clear that riders in a staff that has been taken over by one other staff are solely free from any current contracts after October 19, when the UCI points a press launch of the checklist of groups which have submitted the important info for 2024 registration.
Evenepoel additionally seems to grasp the UCI guidelines and is aware of that the rider switch window is formally open till December 31. Nonetheless, he and everybody else on this traumatic saga clearly need readability as quickly as attainable.
“You may and are allowed to signal anyplace till December 31,” Evenepoel mentioned. “So there is no such thing as a rush, the winter remains to be lengthy. However alternatively, it isn’t. Everybody desires to know what is going to occur to Soudal Fast-Step as rapidly as attainable. It is nearly the vacations, in that sense the unanswered questions are undoubtedly not good.”
Evenepoel and his Soudal-QuickStep teammates will attempt to put apart their considerations in regards to the future and deal with Saturday’s Il Lombardia. He’ll tackle Tadej Pogacar (UAE Staff Emirates) and Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) within the ultimate Monument of the 2023 season.
“There’s a considerably unusual, considerably confused environment. Some folks cope with this in another way than others,” Evenepoel mentioned of the sentiments inside Soudal-QuickStep.
“I do know what it’s wish to should carry out underneath stress. However different boys haven’t but felt that stress, they’ve extra problem with it.
“I wish to use all my vitality for the race. I am right here to chase my final large season objective, Il Lombardia. I am extra involved with that.
“We’ve got to do what we’re recognized for: racing as quick as attainable and making an attempt to realize consequence. There are causes to panic and stress, however we should always save that for after the season.”
