The Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team will take on the GP Vermarc this Sunday with some help from Stan Van Tricht. Having won nine races so far, the squad can be content with its season, but the young wolves are hungry for more.
Bart Roosens, manager of the Devo Team, looked back with a lot of satisfaction on how the first months of the year went: “In every race we were up there, fighting for a good result. I think we can be happy with how they performed so far. We have the best material, so for sure we feel we grew a lot in that regard. The guys are also extra motivated racing with such great Specialized bikes and the Soudal Quick-Step jersey on their shoulders. It always gives them an extra boost.”
In the Tour du Rwanda, Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team took two stage wins, brought by Ethan Vernon, who joined them from the World Tour team. “The guys were so happy to ride for Ethan, it just gives them that extra motivation if one of the World Tour riders goes with them to a race or if it’s the other way and one of them gets to ride with the World Tour team. There’s a great atmosphere between the riders, I think we can say we have a kind of ‘junior’ Wolfpack spirit and it’s beautiful to witness that.”
“The cooperation between the two teams works perfectly. If one of the riders gets selected to ride with the big guys, they are a bit stressed but most of all they see it as an honor and try to perform in the best way possible, which some of them have already done. They don’t know the mechanics, soigneurs, so it’s all new, they get as many tips as possible and gain experience. It’s also a chance to show themselves.”
“Next year for sure some riders will become pro, so it will be important to keep on scouting new guys, something which Johan Molly does. He searches for new talents and tries to attract the better juniors to join our team. The goal of course is to try to have as many riders as possible become pro. There’s a good interaction there between Johan and our sports director Kevin Hulsmans – who has an important role in giving the riders as much useful info and tips as possible – and Patrick Lefevere”, said Bart.
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
