The merger between Soudal Quick-Step and Jumbo-Visma will not happen, according to the Belgian newspaper Sporza. The newspaper also states that manager Patrick Lefevere and the main shareholder, Zdenek Bakala, will continue together until 2025.
Last Saturday, Lefevere stated in his column in the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad: “After the letter of intent, everything dragged on for a long time. But this cannot continue for another three days. There must be much more clarity by Monday.”
According to Sporza, Lefevere and Bakala would now continue their project until the end of 2025. Bakala would like new investments to strengthen the team around Remco Evenepoel, but they would no longer be possible.
This new twist comes after Lefevere confirmed the merger plans last week. “Richard Plugge and I talked for an hour. After that, some time passed. I involved Quick-Step and Soudal in the matter. Richard visited Visma. At some point, a letter of intent for the merger was signed. The intention was to create a constellation in which Bakala, Robert van der Wallen, and Richard Plugge would share the shares. I would sell my part,” said Lefevere.
The merger would also involve Specialized
Discussions between Jumbo-Visma and Specialized, the bicycle brand associated with Remco Evenepoel’s Soudal Quick-Step, confirm that negotiations for a possible merger were already well advanced. The Dutch team had also been in talks with Evenepoel himself. Meanwhile, Richard Plugge had already informed the UCI about the plans.