The Belgian newspaper Het Niewsblad, which is well-informed about the WorldTour cycling world, raises six questions that remain unanswered in a potential “Soudal-Visma” merger.
Has Patrick Lefevere come to an end?
If a merger comes to fruition, the role of Lefevere, after forty-five years as a team leader/team manager/CEO, could have come to an end. At the end of 2019, when Lefevere reached the retirement age of 65, he already suggested a retirement from this role: “I feel like the chairman of the board. I give advice, but I no longer feel the daily obligation to go to the races,” he said at the time.
However, in recent years, Lefevere’s position seems to have changed somewhat. With Soudal and Quick-Step, he managed to secure the main sponsors until the end of 2027. “I also promised Soudal and Quick-Step sponsors that I would stay on board until the end of the contracts,” he previously stated.
And what about Remco Evenepoel?
If the merger happens, the Time Trial World Champion will not go unaffected. An important element in the whole story is who will be the so-called “paying agent.” Assuming that Lefevere decides to sell his World Tour license, this will have a serious impact on Remco Evenepoel, as, according to the law, the “new” employer is obliged to honor the contract.
And the other cyclists?
What about the less famous riders? A period of uncertainty begins for them. In any case, there is an “excess.” Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step have a total of 52 cyclists under contract for 2024, in case of a merger, and we know that the UCI imposes a limit of thirty athletes per team. A solution must be found for at least twenty-two cyclists.
There are also personalities that don’t complement each other and may not agree to race alongside other teammates. For example, it is known that Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) would not want to be on the same team as his fellow sprinter Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step).
And the Staff?
Most team leaders, spokespersons, doctors, among others, work independently with contracts for 1 or 2 years. The advisors, mechanics, and other employees of Soudal Quick-Step have employment contracts.
“On October 1st, most teams have already made signings for the next season, and there are few vacancies left,” said a team manager who wishes to remain anonymous. “Mergers have always existed, but it is not ethically responsible to do this so late in the season.”
And the sponsors of both teams?
We don’t have much insight into the contracts between sponsors and teams. Often, only the duration is known. For example, we know that the contract between Richard Plugge and Jumbo expires at the end of 2024, while Soudal has a contract with Lefevere until the end of 2027.
The question is what will happen with Quick Step, a loyal sponsor partner of Patrick Lefevere, which also has a contract until the end of 2027. They don’t seem to be part of the merger plans at the moment. Ruben Desmet, CEO of Unilin Floors (Quick-Step), maintains a friendly “no comment.”
Soudal and Quick-Step have invested in the ‘Project Remco,’ with hopes of winning the Tour de France with Remco Evenepoel. But in an interview, the CEO of Soudal hinted that their sponsorship doesn’t depend on Evenepoel: “It’s good that Remco Evenepoel is Belgian. But if a Spaniard like Juan Ayuso were to come, that could be even better for Soudal.” Thus, a billboard with Jonas Vingegaard may not be an objection either.
When would it happen?
When would the merger take place? In Soudal Quick-Step, Patrick Lefevere sent an internal memo to riders and staff denying that the merger is imminent.
Lefevere indicates that “there have been ongoing discussions with various parties over the past months… But contrary to what has been reported, there are no concrete projects or plans at this time.”
Jumbo-Visma also sent an email to riders and staff to address concerns, but within the team, you hear that merger plans are indeed on the table and that it is “challenging but not impossible” to conclude this before 2024.