“The team will continue. So I’m staying,” said Remco Evenepoel, confirming on Saturday at the finish of the Tour of Lombardy that he would continue to race next season for the Soudal-Quick Step team after the aborted merger with Jumbo-Visma.

“I am very happy here. Next year, we’re going to attack again. We will try to build,” declared the 23-year-old Belgian prodigy after taking 9th place in the last great classic of the season.

The world time trial champion, under contract with Quick-Step until 2026, was at the heart of speculation this summer and announced a time at Ineos.

The question of its future was relaunched in recent days with the proposed merger in 2024 between the Soudal-Quick Step and Jumbo-Visma formations, but which ultimately collapsed.

“There were discussions but I always preferred to concentrate on my training,” explained the winner of the 2022 Vuelta who will end his season next Sunday at the Chrono des Nations.