Tour goal
What is this team trying to do?
Sprint-first Tour through Tim Merlier — hunt flat stages without tying the squad to a GC bind.
Role · Merlier-centric lead-out train on flats; send rouleurs into breaks on transition days.
Team snapshot
Soudal Quick-Step
UCI WorldTeam · SOQ · Belgium
Key riders
Who matters on this squad
Bikes & gear
- Bike
- Specialized Tarmac SL8 / S-Works
- Groupset
- SRAM Red eTap AXS
- Wheels
- Roval Rapide CLX
- Tires
- Specialized Turbo Cotton
- Cockpit
- —
- Saddle
- —
- Pedals
- —
- Kit
- Castelli
- Helmet
- Specialized Prevail
- Eyewear
- Oakley
- Nutrition
- 6d Sports Nutrition
Roster desk
Riders to know
Provisional squad — official eight-rider start list pending — merged from rider desk profiles, last Tour GC where it matches this squad, and enrichment highlights. Tap a name for rider desk when available.
Pure sprinter
sprintflat- Pascal Eenkhoorn
Role TBC when startlist publishes
Today's squad read · Stage 1
Execute a clean TTT — GC time is on the line from km zero. Tim Merlier.
Squad read
- Why to watch
- Why to watch: Soudal's Tour is a sprint programme — whether Merlier's train can win flat stages without a GC anchor draining the roster.
- Best stage types
- Stage profile data pending
How they race
- Strengths
- — proven bunch sprinter with a dedicated Quick-Step lead-out · Sprint-first roster without a GC bind — freedom to chase flat stages · Quick-Step experience in chaotic Tour weeks and echelon positioning · Strong on rolling days when can contest reduced sprints
- Weaknesses
- No dedicated GC anchor after the 2026 roster reshuffle · Mountain domestique depth thinner than UAE or Visma if the race stays selective · Less versatile punch than dual-headed sprint/classics squads on opportunistic days
- Recent wins
- Official games · 2025 edition · Tour Culture · Soudal Quick-Step · 2026 Edition
- Tour history
- History note pending
Public record
- Record Tour de France stage-win franchise
- Classics + sprint palmares
- Prize money (2025 season, published tables)
References
- Official website
- Partners page
- letour.fr team page
- Tour de France 2026 — teams at the start
- Team profile on letour.fr
Desk update 5/20/2026, 5:11:50 PM
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