If they come true, you need to rub your eyes. Dutch media outlet ‘WielterFlits’ reports that the union of two of the most powerful teams in the peloton, Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Stepwill be a reality for the next season, a merger that will create a huge structure of horror wherever it runs and that if confirmed and if there are no more variations than expected, it will allow us to see in both team, for example, runners of the caliber of Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard, Wout Van Aert or Primoz Roglic.
From Belgium, they ensure that the merger between the two groups will become a reality shortly and talks began to take place in July, a union that is widely read and would have been triggered by the news that they said some. months ago British billionaire Jim Ratcliffewho in 2019 joined the cycling team Sky what’s the matter Ineosis studying to get the belda structure of Patrick Levevere, who would have announced his intention to step aside in the coming years. This is not the first or last checkbook purchase by Ratcliffe, who has already expressed a desire to buy football clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea or Barça.
This mega structure will be called Visma-Soudal or Soudal-Visma and can compete head-to-head on the budget level, not results, on Ineos Grenadiers. To this day, the British group continues to have the biggest budget, with 43 million dollars, compared to 35 of UAE Team Emirates25th of Jumbo-Visma or 18 of Soudal-Quick Step.
A bigger portfolio is not synonymous with more sporting success
A wallet with many charges that fortunately is not synonymous with sporting success. It is enough to remember that at this point in the season the Ineos team has achieved only 33 victories, compared to the 52 of the UAE Team Emirates, the 53 of Soudal or the 62 of Jumbo-Visma.
A news that was not welcomed by many as a result of the inequality it would create in the peloton, as it would further increase the budget differences between the teams, it would mean a restructuring of the squads, both of the riders and staff of both squads, apart from leaving a place free in the highest category of cycling, UCI World Tour; in a movement where perhaps cycling’s highest body, the UCI, has something to say.
On the other hand, it seems complicated to have too many exclamation points (Evenepoel, Vingegaard, Roglic or Van Aertand why not Kuss or Laporte), on the same computer. There are so many ambitions to hold in a formation whose international calendar will be so small, but the possible problems that may arise for the Dutch formation of Jumbo-Visma the loss of its main sponsor, Jumbo supermarkets, although the investment group is also in talks City of Neom It will be the new sponsor of what is for many the best cycling team in the world. Just remember yours exhibition at the Vuelta taking the podium with Kuss, Vingegaard and Roglic; his victory in the Giro with Roglic, in the Tour with Vingegaard or the triplet of three of his riders -Laporte, Van Aert and Kooij- in European on the road this Sunday.
The future of Roglic and Evenepoel
This unprecedented movement given the significance it represents can mean departure of Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel from their current structures, a rumor simmering in the peloton. This is neither the first nor the second time that the young Belgian cannibal is associated, which starting next year will be with him. Mikel Landawith the Ineos team, even Levevere has denied it on several occasions. A move that seems complicated, as Evenepoel has a contract with Soudal until 2026.
He is tied for one year less Jumbo-Visma is Slovenian ‘Rogla’. At the end of a Vuelta that was certainly not easy to digest for him, who went to the Spanish round with the aim of achieving his fourth victory, Roglic said that he will not be better anywhere than at Jumbo -Visma and that is where he found everything he needs to progress as a cyclist and quench his thirst.
However, and despite Roglic’s words, many teams are interested in acquiring his services, which are Movistar teambut also the Jayco-AlUla, Bahrain-Victorius or Lidl-Trek. The latter, the former Trek-Segafredo, is well strengthened for future campaigns and the will of the new leaders after the entry of the capital contributed by Lidl is to create a more competitive team. A testament that the Movistar Team also wanted after the slump they experienced this year in the Vuelta and in the big events. From MD, we have moved forward to the day that the phone practice hunts down and hires a second sponsor that will give its team more muscle.
Earlier this month, STC Group, leading telecommunications operator in Saudi Arabia and the Middle Eastbecame Telefónica’s largest shareholder, which at the cycling level translated into the arrival of more money to provide a larger budget to the structure of Abarca Sportsan option that, if the news that prompts this article is confirmed, will be very important.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
