Jumbo-Visma group supervisor Richard Plugge has revealed that the extremely anticipated merger/takeover of the Soudal-QuickStep group didn’t occur “for numerous causes,” with the UCI showing to make use of some ethical suasion to cease the deal and keep away from the potential demise of 1 group.
Plugge refused to verify that his 2024 group will likely be often called Visma-Lease a Bike however instructed “persevering with curiosity” for some form of cope with Amazon regardless of experiences that the e-commerce model had backed out or was solely providing ‘media worth’ maybe by way of a documentary, quite than exhausting money, for his or her involvement.
Jumbo-Visma ended the merger/takeover on the eve of Il Lombardia in early October once they realised that the complicated plan to unite the 2 groups was not their best choice.
Plugge has up to now did not land the worldwide model he hoped would elevate the group even larger however reportedly has monetary backing from Visma and from the Dutch conglomerate Pon that owns bike sponsor Cervelo, Lease a Bike and has a €10 billion turnover.
The frenzy of experiences of a possible Jumbo-Visma and Soudal-QuickStep merger/takeover emerged in late September when the Dutch web site Wielerflits revealed that talks started on the finish of the Tour de France.
Nevertheless, mergers should not technically potential below UCI guidelines, with Jumbo-Visma anticipated to take over Soudal’s sponsorship, add Remco Evenepeol to their roster whereas additionally permitting Primož Roglič to interrupt his contract and be a part of Bora-Hansgrohe.
The stays of the Soudal-QuickStep group may have been bought to a ProTeam trying to step as much as WorldTour stage or closed down utterly, with riders and workers pressured to search for new jobs.
Plugge spoke briefly to The Outer Line e-newsletter, which focuses on the governance and enterprise {of professional} biking, indicating that the UCI grew to become concerned behind the scenes and raised issues concerning the merger/takeover.
“The dialogue didn’t work out for numerous causes,” Plugge stated of the talks with Zdenek Bakala, the proprietor of the Soudal-QuickStep, alongside group supervisor Patrick Lefevere.
“One of many causes was that after our discussions with the UCI, we discovered that there wasn’t a great answer for each groups; we didn’t need one group left in limbo.”
Plugge has nonetheless to verify the group’s title sponsor for 2024, with the UCI utilizing the title of the administration firm when it listed groups that had utilized for 2024 WorldTour standing.
Jumbo-Visma sports activities director Merijn Zeeman made a robust, if oblique, indication that the group’s seek for a brand new sponsor has been profitable, and Plugge additionally appeared unconcerned, with the 2024 group price range anticipated to be larger than in 2023 once they gained all three Grand Excursions.
The Jumbo grocery store chain agreed to sponsor the group till the top of 2024, however Plugge confirmed he has spoken to a number of sponsors.
“We’ve recognized for fairly some time that Jumbo could be scaling again after 2024, and luckily, we’ve had the time and alternative to speak with numerous events about coming in to switch them,” he stated with out including extra.
Whereas his riders get pleasure from their low season and holidays, Plugge and his administration workers are busy bringing the group’s new backers and new riders collectively and finishing their WorldTour registration.