The French Julian Alaphilippedouble world champion on the road, He will leave Soudal Quick Step after 11 seasons to wear the Tudor jersey from 2025directed by former Swiss cyclist Fabian Cancellara.
The Swiss team has made official the signing of Alaphilippe (Saint Amand-Montrond, 32 years old) for the next three seasonswhich he hopes for the 2025 Tour de France.
“After more than ten years with the same team, it’s time for a change. I’ve loved the Tudor Pro Cycling project since the beginning. I’ve watched the team come and develop, and I also know some of the riders and staff member” Alaphilippe noted.
This signing represents the biggest change since the start of his career and the first time he will race with another team.
“I want the team to be a part of it. I want to play my role as a leader, even if I’m not the only one, and I think that’s good.. I also want to guide young people, although I am not very old. I have a lot of experience and that can be important for the youngsters in the team. It’s a great motivation to contribute what I know and my way of being,” he added.
Team director, Fabián Cancellara, will rely on Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi as leaders.
“We are very pleased to have Julian join the team. He is a great runner who perfectly reflects our attitude. He still has the drive to perform at the highest level and will bring stability and experience to the team. Having Julian and Marc Hirschi as two leaders is an opportunity. “They will put pressure on each other but they will also strengthen each other,” said “Spartacus” Cancellara.
For his part, the Dutch cyclist Wout Poels, 36 years old, currently in Bahrain, signed a contract with Astana Qazaqstan for the 2025 season, while British Ethan Hayter, national road champion, will wear the Soudal Quick Step jersey.
Poels, a renowned climber, stage winner in the Vuelta and Tour de France, also has the 2016 Liege-Bastogne on his record, as well as victories in races such as the Vuelta a Andalucía and the Volta in the Valencian Community.
“I am excited to sign for Astana Qazaqstan. The team has been in the professional peloton for many yearswith an impressive number of major wins, and it’s great to join such a group. Next year, I want to show the best of what I can do,” he said.
Poels has a dream to “win a stage at the Giro d’Italia and thus join the list of riders who have won stages in three grand tours.”
In its part, British road cycling champion Ethan Hayter to ride Remco Evenepoel’s Soudal from 2025 after signing a contract for 2 seasons.
A versatile runner, Hayter won nearly twenty road races and four gold medals at the World Track Championships. He turned professional in 2020 and has had at least one win every year since.
Hayter is a competent cyclist in time trials, mountains and as a sprinter. At the 2022 World Championships he finished in the top ten and will now start a new chapter in his career. “I’m very happy to join Soudal Quick-Step, one of the best teams in the peloton. It’s an exciting step and I’m grateful for the opportunity. From the outside, it always seems like a great team to be part of , and this new challenge is something that motivates me for next season,” said Hayter, who recently won silver at the Olympics in the team pursuit event.
Source: La Verdad
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