Despite a strategic reset intended to return the Soudal-QuickStep squad to its Classics roots, the Belgian team have largely ridden under the radar this spring.
In the Classics, which form so much of the team’s history, they have been there or thereabouts so far, with Laurenz Rex’s sixth place at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne their best return in those fabled home races. A far cry from 2014, when Tom Boonen won in the team’s colours and four more of their number finished in the top 10.
