Why would any rider ever leave Quickstep?

El Tarangu

Marcel Kittel - won four stages one year with QS, left and did not trouble the podium for most of the rest of his career.

Replaced by:

Gaviria - was winning races left and right with QS (including 3 or 4 stage of the Tour one year) - moves to UAE, is fairly quiet ever after.

Replaced by:

Viviani - wins many races when following the QS's impeccable leadout, moves to Cofidis where the leadout is not so good; it's early days (plus the schedule is messed up because of the pandemic, so fewer races), but he doesn't seem to have done anything since.

Nikki Terpstra - kind of easier to understand, as he was getting to the twilight of his career and was given the opportunity to lead his own team; still, he went from winning the odd classic (albeit with having to always compete for position of top-dog within his own team), to being the undisputed leader of an inferior team, and not really winning anything.

Presumably there is a big pay bump, but one must imagine that, as professional rider, winning races must be the best feeling ever, and for an elite athlete to make a business decision that takes them from winning races on a semi-regular basis to winning seldom or never, is very hard to fathom.

The only exception that springs to mind is Kwiatkowski (and in that instance the pay bump was probably really, really good, plus you are almost guaranteed to be part of that year's Tour de France-winning team).

Patrick Lefevere is the reason, and the reason the team has been around so long. He's realistic about the money side of things and won't get into a bidding war to keep riders. OK we lose a Gaviria but we gain a Viviani, we lose a Viviani but we gain a Bennet etc.

They must be a great outfit to ride for aswell given the loyalty many of the stalwarts have shown over the years though.

Also they aren't really a GC, EDIT: GC in a Grand tour focused team so those riders don't tend to stay, which is funny given Enenepoels success.

Macy0161

El Tarangu wrote: »

Presumably there is a big pay bump, but one must imagine that, as professional rider, winning races must be the best feeling ever, and for an elite athlete to make a business decision that takes them from winning races on a semi-regular basis to winning seldom or never, is very hard to fathom.

Winning might be the best feeling, but as a "professional" it's ultimately about the pay cheque. I think that's why some fans don't really get why cyclists decide to be domestiques when they could be winners (Nico a prime local example).

Terpstra isn't a bad example - he could've had the crashes he's had with DQS, potentially limiting his next deal (there or elsewhere). He's had two years of extra money.

neris

They dont pay aswell as other big teams. Winning is all well and good but money talks and the career of a pro cyclist is short and not very affluent for most of them

El Tarangu

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Also they aren't really a GC, EDIT: GC in a Grand tour focused team so those riders don't tend to stay, which is funny given Enenepoels success.

I would have said the same thing (they certainly didn't give Dan Martin much support a few year ago, and he still managed 7th overall AFAIR), but then last year's tour surprised me. If Remco looks like he can win the Tour, they will pay any money to keep him there, and change up the whole team around him, I have no doubt.

The shared leadership in the classics is also something that doesn't suit all riders.

For sprinters, it doesn't seem to matter to Lefevre if he loses a top level one. There's always going to be another top sprinter waiting to join, or already with the team because of their expertise in this area.

And as mentioned above, more money to be earned elsewhere.

Macy0161

El Tarangu wrote: »

I would have said the same thing (they certainly didn't give Dan Martin much support a few year ago, and he still managed 7th overall AFAIR), but then last year's tour surprised me. If Remco looks like he can win the Tour, they will pay any money to keep him there, and change up the whole team around him, I have no doubt.

Well it'll be a different ball game with a Belgian GC contender, and obviously will change their Sponsorship potential.

Junior

Lefevere sets a value he's willing to pay in his head for a rider, this is in then factored into the books, if they balance, then well and good, if they don't, then somethings got to give.

Terpstra left for Money and was notorious for being a tight bastard.
Vivani had a deal done but went back to him for an extra 200K and he was told no.

dahat

Bob Jungels is off to AG2R for next year, decent classics squad building there.