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Simply while you thought Jumbo-Visma – contemporary from profitable all three grand excursions in a season for the primary time in biking’s historical past, and cementing that record-smashing feat with a nonchalant 1-2-3 on the Vuelta – couldn’t turn out to be any extra ruthlessly dominant, rumours emerged final night time that the Dutch workforce is on the verge of merging with one of many different most profitable squads of the previous 20 years, Soudal Fast-Step.
Yep – on the day that three Jumbo-Visma riders stood on the rostrum of the lads’s European street race championships, Wielerflits reported that the 2 groups have been in discussions a few attainable merger since July, and that each Visma and Soudal are already on board.
A glimpse into the long run? (Cxcling Artistic Company)
In some methods, the rumours make a whole lot of sense. The way forward for Soudal Fast-Step – residence of Remco Evenepoel, Julian Alaphilippe, and Kasper Asgreen – has been unsure for some time now, with rumours swirling of a possible partnership between Patrick Lefevere’s workforce and the Ineos Grenadiers in latest months.
In the meantime, Jumbo-Visma have their very own monetary gap to fill, as beleaguered grocery store chain Jumbo confirmed they’re stepping away from sports activities sponsorship after a scandal-ridden year.
Beneath the brand new, amalgamated tremendous workforce, which as Wielerflits studies may very well be confirmed in time for the beginning of subsequent season, Jumbo-Visma boss Richard Plugge would take the position of CEO of the brand new squad, whereas Lefevere would sit on the workforce’s supervisory board.
Nonetheless, the prospect of two of essentially the most profitable groups of the previous three many years – and with a mixed half a century of racing heritage between them – becoming a member of forces to create a type of classics and grand tour smashing Harlem Globetrotters hasn’t gone down too effectively with many biking followers and pundits.
Staff mergers are by no means good for the game
— #SiempreGino (@NairoInGreen) September 24, 2023
“Only a reminder that it’s not simply riders who’ve an unsure future within the face of this,” wrote Katie on Twitter. “There are tons of of workers members who work tirelessly behind the scenes who will go to mattress anxious about job safety tonight. It’s all enjoyable and hypothesis but additionally actual life for some.”
Eurosport commentator José Been added: “Nobody even mildly interested by what occurs to the 2 girls’s groups when there’s a merger? That’s 50 + riders throughout 4 groups (elite, U23 and juniors) too.”
And goodness is aware of how Remco have to be feeling proper now:
— Anna Mac 👑🪱 🌈🖤 (@AnnamacB) September 24, 2023
After all, different studies from Belgium have instructed this morning {that a} merger – the equal of Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool becoming a member of forces – is much from a finished deal, and that a few of the sponsors, in addition to the riders and workers, aren’t even conscious of what’s occurring apparently behind closed doorways.
What do you assume? Is the attainable creation of a Visma-Soudal workforce an excellent factor for the game? Or are we going through the prospect of 1-2-3s at Flander, Roubaix, and the Tour for the foreseeable future?
Or are we simply within the midst of biking’s famed foolish season?
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