Soudal Quick-Step is counting on Asgreen and Alaphilippe in the Tour of Flanders: “Start with a lot of confidence”

Soudal Quick-Step has announced the selection for the Tour of Flanders. Julian Alaphilippe and former winner Kasper Asgreen have arrived The Wolf Pack appointed as leaders. Sprinter Tim Merlier also makes an appearance.

Merlier is the only Soudal Quick-Step rider who has already managed to score on Flemish soil this year. He won Danilith Nokere Koerse about two weeks ago with a mighty sprint. It was his sixth victory of the season, after he also won a total of five stages in the AlUla Tour and UAE Tour.

Alaphilippe and Asgreen
Alaphilippe and Asgreen have not yet come close to a victory this season. While the Frenchman finished sixth in the Tour Down Under and finished ninth in Milan-San Remo, the Dane has not even recorded a top ten ranking in 2024. However, Asgreen is one of the four former winners at the departure, in addition to Alexander Kristoff, Alberto Bettiol and Mathieu van der Poel. He won the High Mass in 2021.

In addition to Merlier, Alaphilippe and Asgreen, Yves Lampaert, Gianni Moscon, Casper Pedersen and Bert Van Lerberghe will also start for Soudal Quick-Step.

To trust
“The Ronde is a race that never lies,” said sports director Tom Steels. “It is a race where only the strongest riders triumph. We have a good team for Sunday, with a former winner of the Tour of Flanders, and we start with a lot of confidence. It is true that we have suffered a bit in recent races, but things can change quickly and we hope for a strong race.”