'Curious about the Wolfpack feeling' - Stuyven excited for Soudal-QuickStep adventure

Racing for Lidl-Trek is all Jasper Stuyven has known since arriving on the WorldTour back in 2014, a team that he described as having a “family atmosphere,” but ‘The Chocolatier from Flanders’ will move on to pastures new in 2026 after a successful 12 years, making the switch to Soudal-QuickStep.

Stuyven had announced himself as a future star in the junior ranks, winning the UCI road race World Championships in 2009, beating the just-retired Arnaud Démare in a dash to the line in Moscow, before adding Paris-Roubaix the following year. 

He made an early impact at the team then known as Trek-Factory Racing as an important teammate and as a fast finisher, achieving six individual top 10 stage finishes in his debut Grand Tour at the Vuelta a España in 2014, before going one better and claiming his first and only Grand Tour stage win to date at the Spanish Grand Tour the following year.

Since then, Stuyven established himself as a world-class rider and one of the best Classics riders in the peloton, winning Milan-San Remo in 2021 as well as forming a standout partnership with Mads Pedersen. 

In his final race in Lidl-Trek colours, Stuyven ended 9th at Paris-Tours, finishing in the chasing pack behind the select group sprint, which was won by Matteo Trentin. The Belgian reflected to Sporza about his time with Lidl-Trek after the finish.

"I'll miss the family atmosphere and the familiar environment immensely. It's unique, although I can't compare it to other teams,” said Stuyven to Sporza. "I look back with great pleasure and pride, and with a lot of curiosity and motivation for what's to come. 

Stuyven’s departure from Lidl-Trek is an affable one, after the Belgian’s excellent services over the twelve years he served as a valuable member of the squad.

"When my transfer was announced, there was never any resentment. Both the team and I remained very fair to each other. It's a farewell without any bitter feelings,” said Stuyven. 

Reflecting on his highlights with the team, Stuyven was asked about his clever victory at Milan-San Remo in 2021. "Of course, that's the biggest victory, and I'm incredibly proud of it. Although I'm also proud of the successes that teammates have achieved, and that I was a part of,” explained Stuyven.

Stuyven remains one of the best classics specialists in the bunch, still competing at the top level, as illustrated by 5th-place finishes this year at the E3 Saxo Classic and Tour of Flanders. This experience could be invaluable for Soudal-QuickStep, who had lost their way in recent years as the former dominant force in the spring.

However, the Belgian team have signalled their intent to return to their roots for 2026 after the departure of Remco Evenepoel. Beyond Stuyven, Soudal-QuickStep have also announced the signing of fellow monument winner Dylan van Baarle from Visma | Lease a Bike and has bolstered their staff ranks with former classics stars Niki Terpstra, Sep Vanmarcke, and Tim Declercq.

Stuyven had previously stated that Evenepoel's departure, "frees up more space to pursue my own goals," as the team looks set to transition back to their roots and the Belgian signalling how his ambitions align with the planned trajectory of the team and CEO Jurgen Foré. 

"The opportunity was presented to me, and I was pleased that Jurgen Foré wanted to share my ambitions. He promised me a prominent place in the team, and for me, it was time for a new lease on life. It was now or never. So, now it was," said Stuyven.

"I'm really looking forward to being part of The Wolfpack. Everything is new, but I already know a lot of the guys on the team. I'm curious about the Wolfpack feeling," said Stuyven.