'I'm still valuable in the Classics' - Stuyven explains Soudal-QuickStep move

"It wasn't that I was tired of Lidl-Trek. But when negotiations with Soudal-QuickStep started, I felt it was time for a new team,” Stuyven told Sporza, revealing that his decision to join Soudal-QuickStep was made easier by the limited leadership opportunities on the horizon for him at Lidl-Trek in 2026.

"Of course, I wasn't happy to hear that,” said Stuyven about the limited leadership opportunities. “But the team also understood that there were probably many other teams that still saw me in that role as leader. That made the decision to leave easier, because I think I'm definitely still valuable in the Spring Classics."

The 2021 Milan-San Remo champion is one of two Monument winners that the Belgian team have signed this Winter, alongside 2022 Paris-Roubaix champion Dylan Van Baarle, as they gear to reshape their focus towards the Classics following the departure of Remco Evenepoel to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.

Stuyven, who was firmly in the action at the Tour of Flanders last season, finishing fifth whilst supporting Mads Pedersen to runners-up spot, admitted that he would love to be a part of the team reliving its former success in the cobbled Classics, though acknowledged the size of the challenge in toppling Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel.

"That's the idea, of course, but everyone is also realistic enough. Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel are so strong that they quickly force a man-to-man situation,” said Stuyven.

Even so, Stuyven expressed hope that the team's strength in numbers could weigh on the Classics as it did in the past. "It does give you more confidence and motivation to know that you can go to the Classics with a strong team,” he said.

Stuyven has shown over many years with Mads Pedersen how effective a strong partnership can be, and the 33-year-old hopes that he can strike a similar dynamic with his new teammates at Soudal-QuickStep.

"That way, you don't have to react to everything yourself, and you can create a situation where you don't have to ride in a chasing group,” he added.

Asked for the secret to beating both Pogačar and Van der Poel in a cobbled Classic, Stuyven said: "I'd like to be able to say I have an answer to that. But I don't. But I'll still start a race with the idea that I'm going to try to win that race. You can also get a lot of satisfaction from riding finals and fighting for a victory or podium finish in the Classics."