Soudal-QuickStep supervisor Patrick Lefevere has welcomed Gianni Moscon to his group for 2024, saying he prefers riders with character than a sheep who simply observe alongside and say sure to all the things.
In flip, Moscon has mentioned he’s the happiest particular person on the earth after being given an opportunity to resurrect his profession after two troublesome years with Astana Qazaqstan.
The 2 will meet in particular person and get to know one another through the first Soudal-QuickStep in Belgium early subsequent week. Moscon may also meet Evenepoel and his new teammates for 2024 as Soudal-QuickStep start to plan for the season forward.
“I couldn’t have requested for a greater group, that is the beginning of a brand new second in my profession,” Moscon promised La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I used to be beginning to suppose that I couldn’t discover one other essential group, and was fascinated with quitting or taking a 12 months out.”
Soudal-QuickStep named Gianni Moscon because the twenty seventh and final rider for his or her 2024 roster, with the Italian anticipated to journey the Classics and maybe assist Remco Evenepoel on the Tour de France.
“I simply need to get again to my finest. I’ve signed for only a 12 months with the thought to battle again. It’s a brand new begin, and I’ll be a part of among the best groups within the peloton,” Moscon mentioned.
“I like Remco Evenepoel, he talks straight. I feel that’s a superb high quality to have.
“After I was with Sky, Ineos and Astana, I at all times watched what QuickStep did as a result of they have been an instance to observe. They know find out how to race.”
Het Laatste Nieuws described Moscon as ‘controversial’ as a result of variety of incidents throughout his profession, with one unidentified rider telling Nieuwsblad that “90 p.c of the peloton does not like him.”
Moscon’s rap sheet contains the racial abuse of Kevin Reza on the 2017 Tour de Romandie, expulsion from the 2018 Tour de France for aiming a punch at Élie Gesbert, and disqualification from the 2020 Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne for dumping a motorbike on Jens Debusschere within the warmth of the second after a crash.
But Lefevere seems assured of controlling Moscon. “It’s as much as us to information him effectively,” Lefevere advised Nieuwsblad.
“Moscon might have a brief fuse, however I hope he has realized his lesson. I do not suppose you must conform to all the things. If somebody hits you within the head and you do not hit again, effectively…”
“I want somebody with character than a sheep that bleats ‘sure.’”
Moscon final impressed in main races at Paris-Roubaix in 2021, when he made a long-range assault just for a puncture and bike change to wreck his possibilities of victory.
“The ball is in his court docket, it’s as much as him to show that we’re not incorrect about him. I do not imagine Moscon’s potential has gone away. And if we do not succeed, it is dangerous luck for him,” Lefevere mentioned.