Soudal Quick-Step is proud to announce a long-term partnership with Italian junior team Riboli Team Autozai Contri, creating a clear and structured pathway for some of Italy’s most promising young riders to progress within a familiar and supportive environment.
The agreement will see Autozai Contri become the Wolfpack’s U19 satellite team in Italy, working closely with Soudal Quick-Step to identify, nurture and develop the next generation of Italian talent. Italy has played a significant role in the history of the Wolfpack. From the success of Paolo Bettini, one of the defining riders of the team’s early years and a double World Champion during his time in the squad, Italian riders have consistently helped shape the identity of the Wolfpack.
The connection between the two organisations is already reflected in the career of Filippo Zana. The Italian rider spent part of his formative years with Team Riboli before later progressing to the World Tour and eventually Soudal Quick-Step.
Erazem Valjavec was also with the team, before joining our Devo squad last year, illustrating the type of pathway that this new partnership aims to strengthen for future generations of riders.
Team Riboli brings with it a rich tradition of developing young Italian talent. Founded more than five decades ago and a cornerstone of Italian junior cycling for generations, the Verona-based team has helped launch the careers of riders who have gone on to succeed at the highest level of the sport. In recent seasons, the team has continued to establish itself among the strongest junior programmes in Italy, nurturing some of the country’s most promising young riders while combining sporting excellence with a strong focus on personal development.
The collaboration has been designed to allow talented Italian riders to remain within a familiar environment while continuing their development at the highest level. Through the partnership, selected riders will benefit from closer integration with the Wolfpack structure, while coaches and staff from both organisations will work together to share expertise, best practices and knowledge.
The partnership will also provide opportunities for greater collaboration in areas such as rider testing, performance monitoring, coaching and athlete development, allowing both organisations to benefit from each other’s experience and resources. Performance staff from both teams will meet on a regular basis and hold seminars based on how to give these young riders the best chance to flourish in professional cycling.
Over the years, Soudal Quick-Step has developed a comprehensive development ecosystem designed to help young riders realise their potential and progress to the highest level of professional cycling. The creation of the Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team in 2022 strengthened that commitment, providing a direct bridge between the junior and World Tour ranks and allowing talented athletes to develop at the right pace.
The new collaboration with Team Riboli will complement the work already being carried out through the team’s established U19 structures in Belgium and Northern Europe, further strengthening the Wolfpack’s ability to support young talent across key cycling nations while respecting the importance of local development environments.
Speaking of the new partnership, Soudal Quick-Step CEO Jurgen Foré said: “We are delighted to begin this collaboration with Riboli Team Autozai Contri, a team with a proud history and an excellent reputation for developing young riders. Italy has always been an important country in the story of our team, and we see this partnership as an opportunity to invest in the future of Italian cycling.
What makes this collaboration particularly exciting is that it allows talented young Italian riders to continue their development within a familiar environment while benefiting from the knowledge, experience and performance structures that exist within both organisations. We believe that young riders develop best when they are supported both athletically and personally, and this partnership helps us provide exactly that.
This initiative complements the excellent work already being done within our existing development ecosystem, including our established U19 activities in Belgium and Northern Europe.
We already work closely with teams such as Avia-Rudyco and we see it as our responsibility to support the club teams that discover, develop and nurture young riders from the very beginning of their journey in the sport. Together, these programmes will help us continue to identify, support and develop talented young riders from across Europe.
We are looking forward to working closely with everyone at Riboli Team Autozai Contri, sharing ideas and expertise, and helping the next generation of riders reach their full potential.”
Adding to these sentiments was Riboli Team Autozai Contri General Manager Enrico Mantovanelli, who said. “This new partnership with an organization that has played a pivotal role in the history of global cycling fills us with satisfaction and pride. The fact that Soudal Quick-Step has chosen Autozai Contri as its Italian junior partner represents, for us, a significant recognition of the work we have done in recent years.
Looking back on the journey we’ve taken, I feel deeply moved to see how much we’ve grown and how many goals, which once seemed almost unachievable, have become a reality.
This milestone is the result of the daily efforts of our entire staff, who, with passion, expertise, and dedication, have contributed significantly to the growth of our project.”
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