Evenepoel and Merlier to lead confident Soudal Quick-Step at the Tour de France

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Soudal Quick-Step have confirmed their eight-rider squad for the 2025 Tour de France, with Remco Evenepoel and Tim Merlier set to share leadership duties as the Belgian team targets both general classification and stage wins.

Evenepoel returns for his second Tour after finishing third overall and winning the white jersey in 2024. Speaking ahead of the Grand Départ in Lille, the Belgian made clear that another podium is his goal, though he warned the first half of the race could prove decisive.

“It’s my second Tour de France and I’m looking forward to the Grand Départ, which won’t be far from Belgium,” Evenepoel said. “I think it’s obvious that I’m aiming for a good general classification, but the most important thing will be to not lose time in the first half of the race, which should be a very nervous one, with lots of traps and tricky roads. Just like last year, I want to win a stage there and do a good GC, while taking it one day at a time.”

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The 25-year-old recently showed strong form at the Critérium du Dauphiné, where he finished fourth overall and beat Tadej Pogačar to win the individual time trial. Stage 5’s 25km ITT in Caen offers a clear opportunity for Evenepoel to target yellow in the opening week.

Alongside him, Merlier returns to the Tour for the first time since 2021, coming in with ten victories already this season. With a flat opening stage in Lille and other early sprint chances, he will have dedicated support from Pascal Eenkhorn and Bert van Lerberghe as he targets a first career stage win at the race.

Tom Steels, the team’s sports director, said the route plays to the strengths of both leaders, especially in the opening week.

“The race can be divided in two parts,” Steels explained. “A hectic first half, without a proper mountain stage, but with a flat individual time trial where gaps can be made, and plenty of opportunities for the sprinters and the puncheurs. Tim and Remco will have a couple of chances, but important will be that everybody makes it through those ten stages safely.”

Looking ahead to the second half of the race, which features a string of summit finishes and an uphill time trial in stage 20, Steels acknowledged the GC battle will be decided late. He also noted the unusual potential for the final stage in Paris to affect the overall standings, as it will not be the traditional processional sprint.

“We have a strong and experienced team, capable of some nice things this summer, and so we start with a lot of confidence,” Steels concluded.

Soudal Quick-Step 2025 Tour de France line-up

  • Remco Evenepoel
  • Tim Merlier
  • Ilan van Wilder
  • Bert van Lerberghe
  • Max Schachmann
  • Valentin Paret-Peintre
  • Pascal Eenkhorn
  • Mattia Cattaneo