Van Wilder ready to step out of Evenepoel’s shadow - 'We’ll return to our roots and the real Wolfpack spirit'
Remco Evenepoel’s move to Red Bull BORA hansgrohe marks the end of an era at Soudal Quick-Step. For years the team revolved around its Belgian leader, but his departure will force a reset. Where some see a void, Ilan Van Wilder sees opportunity.
“Some riders will blossom,” Van Wilder told HLN ahead of his return at the Deutschland Tour. “Hopefully I’ll be one of them. We’ll return to our roots, focusing more on our strength in depth and the real Wolfpack spirit. I’m confident we’ll keep performing strongly as a team, even without Remco. It’ll just be a bit different to how it’s been in recent years.”
Van Wilder knows what it means to play a key role in Evenepoel’s success. The 2022 Vuelta a España remains a career highlight. “Together we raced a lot and achieved a lot,” he said. “We lost a few riders along the way, went to Madrid with a reduced squad, and while everyone thought we would never be able to control the race, we did. And we helped deliver Remco the overall victory.”
After four seasons together, their paths diverge. “Honestly, I’m not losing any sleep over it,” Van Wilder admitted. “Of course Remco’s departure is unfortunate, we’re losing one of our great leaders. But it’s a decision he makes for his career and that’s his right. My life and career won’t be determined by it. I’ll just keep doing my thing.”
The 25-year-old has already shown leadership qualities. His breakthrough came at the 2023 Deutschland Tour with a stage win and the overall, followed by Tre Valli Varesine. Since then he has added consistent top-fives and top-tens at WorldTour level. At the 2025 Tour de France he finished fourth on Mont Ventoux while helping teammate Valentin Paret-Peintre take a stage. “That wasn’t a ‘boost’, exactly,” he said. “More of a confirmation of the strong season I’ve been having.”
Though linked with other teams, Van Wilder signed a contract through 2028. “I feel happy in this team,” he said. “Here I can continue to develop without contract stress. That process might accelerate now that Remco is gone. Not bad at this stage of my career, I think. Maybe it’s necessary to step out of that comfort zone. And maybe it’s time for something new.”
From 2026 he expects more consistent chances for himself. “So far I’ve combined supporting Remco with the occasional chance to ride for myself. In about 90 percent of those cases it resulted in something: top five, top ten, often just below the 'Big Three'. From 2026 it will be different.”
With Evenepoel leaving and no immediate replacement, Quick-Step is likely to return to its trademark collective style. Van Wilder sees that as an opportunity. “It’s not that we completely lost that spirit, but it had faded a little. That’s normal when you build a team around one specific leader. Now, things will be more open. Some guys are going to grow. They’ll step up. I hope I’m one of them.”
Evenepoel’s departure may dominate the headlines, but Van Wilder is already looking forward. “I’m just doing my thing,” he said with a shrug. “And I think now, more than ever, it’s time to see what I can really do.”
