If the reported Jumbo-Visma and Soudal-Quickstep merger comes to fruition, it could
facilitate the transfer of Remco Evenepoel to another team such as Ineos Grenadiers. But that is the least of the "catastrophic consequences on the economy of professional cycling", as Philippe Gilbert stated on social media.
The retired Belgian rider is undoubtedly not the only one concerned about the impact of two teams merging into one.
GCN reports that Soudal-QuickStep boss Patrick Lefevere sent a letter to his riders and staff trying to calm their nerves, telling them: "Contrary to reports however, there are no concrete projects and plans at this moment."
But how did the top team in the world and the fourth-ranked team get into a situation where they're even discussing a merger, and what does it say about the sponsor-based business model pro cycling?
Jumbo-Visma announced in June that the grocery store chain Jumbo would cease its sponsorship and one week later lost another grocery chain Gorillas, leaving a reported €5 million deficit in their budget.
The gaping hole comes to a team with numerous lucrative contracts including two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard (through 2027), triple Vuelta a España winner and 2023 Giro d'Italia champion Primož Roglič (through 2025), and Classics star Wout van Aert (through 2026).
The same team had just completed a historic Grand Tour triple with Sepp Kuss (contracted through 2024) winning the Vuelta.
Soudal-QuickStep, meanwhile, have a smaller budget but an equally high-profile rider in Evenepoel. They have had to fend off reports that the time trial world champion is unhappy and being courted by rival teams despite him being under contract through 2026, which were sparked by complaints from his father, who is also Evenepoel's agent.
A merger or take over by the Jumbo-Visma or Soudal-QuickStep management companies would spark an earthquake in the sport and a ripple effect through the WorldTour and into lower levels of the sport.
"Any rider who is under contract on the team who would forfeit or sell their WorldTour license and doesn't want to be part of this merger will be free to go to another team," disgraced former team manager Johan Bruyneel pointed out on social media.
If the current Jumbo-Visma management company became the paying agent of the new 'mega team', then Evenepoel's current contract with Soudal-QuickStep would no longer be valid. He could negotiate a new contract with the new new team or be free to agree a contract with another team, such as Ineos Grenadiers.
Evenepoel has already been approached by Ineos, according to multiple reports, while Lefevere has been open to selling his team as, with American investors deciding against buying the team for €16.5 million.
If Evenepoel opted to join the new mega team, the combined budget would have to be large enough to pay three or four contenders as well as teams strong enough to support three Grand Tour pushes in a season.
Jumbo-Visma already have such a team and by most counts, 22 riders under contract for 2024 or beyond, and have announced the signing of Matteo Jorgenson, Ben Tulett and three neo-pros for 27 riders (minus Michel Hessman if his doping case results in a suspension).
Soudal-QuickStep have recently announced several departures, the latest being lead-out man Michael Mørkøv, but still have 15 riders under contract in addition to the arrivals of Mikel Landa, Luke Lamperti and six other neo-pros for at least 23 riders under contract.
The new mega team would be limited to 30 riders under UCI WorldTour rules. If the Jumbo-Visma management company controls the new team, then the simplest way for Lefevere to avoid any contract obligations would to be sell his WorldTour licence to someone who can find the required funding or who wants to step up from ProTeam level.
If the team is dissolved, the ripple effect would mean the rider market would be flooded with quality athletes trying to find new teams, hurting the prospects of riders who are looking for new contracts at ProTeam and Continental level.
Pro cycling has absorbed other WorldTour mergers (or acquisitions that weren't exactly mergers like Cannondale and Slipstream) but never two teams of this magnitude.
The creation of Visma-Soudal would change the outcome of races, it would change the balance of power in the peloton and ultimately shake the faith of sponsors in the sport.
