Soudal Quick-Step

History

The team was created as Quick-Step–Davitamon in 2003 from staff and riders of Domo–Farm Frites and Mapei–Quick-Step when the latter disbanded after nine years in the sport. Paolo Bettini won the UCI Road World Cup in 2003 and 2004 as well as the 2004 Summer Olympics road title in 2004.

In the 2005 UCI ProTour season, renamed Quick-Step–Innergetic, the team won a large number of classics: Tom Boonen won Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix, Filippo Pozzato the HEW Cyclassics, and Paolo Bettini the Züri-Metzgete and the Giro di Lombardia. In late 2005 Tom Boonen won the 2005 UCI Road World Championships in Madrid, where Michael Rogers won the time-trial.

In 2006 Boonen retained the Tour of Flanders and held the yellow jersey in the 2006 Tour de France during stage 3–6, and Filippo Pozzato won 2006 Milan–San Remo. Paolo Bettini won the world championship in Salzburg and retained his Giro di Lombardia crown. In 2007 Tom Boonen won the points classification in the Tour de France, taking two stage wins. Bettini defended his world championship in Stuttgart.

In 2008 Gert Steegmans took the final stage of the 2008 Tour de France on the Champs-Élysées. Paolo Bettini retired after the world championship in Varese. In both 2008 and 2009 Stijn Devolder took the Tour of Flanders and Tom Boonen, Paris–Roubaix. After two seasons of disappointment, a resurgent Omega Pharma–Quick-Step and Tom Boonen took four major Spring classics victories, including the four cobblestone courses E3 Harelbeke, Gent–Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix.

In October 2012, the team fired their veteran rider Levi Leipheimer after he admitted to doping in a sworn affidavit to USADA. This was despite the team statement that "commended" Leipheimer for his "open cooperation" in the USADA investigation that exposed Lance Armstrong's long-term cheating in cycling via doping. The team's action was described by USADA head Travis Tygart as "The classic Omertà move, right? Actions speak louder than words. On the one hand, they say they congratulate him on coming forward, [but] their action terminating him for being truthful speaks a lot louder than their words."

CyclingNews reported in the same article that the team's claim to have only recently learned of Leipheimer's past doping was according to Tygart "absolutely not true... Leipheimer and a USADA attorney told the team months ago of the investigation, and of Leipheimer's role". Cyclingnews noted that Omega Pharma general manager Patrick Lefevere "had admitted in 2007 to having used doping products, including amphetamines, during his own career". Lefevere is still CEO of Etixx as of September 2015.

On 17 July 2014, the team announced that Iljo Keisse had been given a two-year contract extension. Tony Martin confirmed via his Twitter account that he had signed a two-year contract extension. On 19 August the team announced that Pieter Serry had signed a two-year contract extension, on 27 August the team announced the signing of Maxime Bouet on a two-year deal and on 1 September the team announced the signing of David de la Cruz on a two-year contract. In 2014 Michał Kwiatkowski won a rainbow jersey in 2014 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race in Ponferrada, Spain.

In February 2015, the team announced it had signed 2015 UCI World Omnium champion, Fernando Gaviria, and fellow Colombian, Rodrigo Contreras, on two-year deals set to commence at the start of the 2016 season. In August 2015, the team signed Davide Martinelli for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

As of April 2021, the team has won more than 800 races, making it one of the most successful squads in history.

With the win in 7th stage of 2024 Tour de France, the team won stages in 12 Tour de France in a row, the longest active streak and second only to TI Raleigh with 17 (1976-1992).

Sponsorship and ownership

The team is operated by the company Decolef Lux, based in Luxembourg with branches in France and Belgium. A majority shareholder of the company is a Czech businessman Zdeněk Bakala. Title sponsors throughout its history have been Quick-Step Flooring, a division of Mohawk Industries, who had previously been co-sponsors of the Mapei team from 1999 to 2003.

Belgian pharmaceutical company Omega Pharma had two spells as title co-sponsors (2003–07 and 2012–16), using either the company name or one of its products. Either side of its first involvement with this team, Omega were sponsors of their Belgian rivals.

Deceuninck, a manufacturer of PVC-systems windows, became the primary sponsors from 2019, with Quick-Step Floors remaining as secondary sponsor. At the Tour of Flanders in 2020 and 2021, the team carried the name of a Deceuninck product line, Elegant, rather than that of the company. Deceuninck ended their sponsorship of the team following the 2021 season, while Quick-Step Floors extended their sponsorship until 2027. In 2023 Belgian company Soudal joined as a title sponsor.

Team roster

Major wins

Main article: List of wins by Quick-Step–Davitamon and its successors

National, continental and world champions

;2003 :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Time Trial Michael Rogers :[[File:Jersey italianflag.svg|20px]] Italian Road Race Paolo Bettini :[[File:MaillotHungary.png|20px]] Hungarian Time Trial László Bodrogi ;2004 :[[File:MaillotHungary.png|20px]] Hungarian Time Trial László Bodrogi :[[File:Gold medal olympic.svg|15px]] Olympic Road Race, Paolo Bettini :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Time Trial Michael Rogers ;2005 :[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Road Race Tom Boonen :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Time Trial Michael Rogers ;2006 :[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Road Race Paolo Bettini :[[File:Jersey italianflag.svg|20px]] Italian Road Race Paolo Bettini ;2007 :[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Road Race Paolo Bettini :[[File:Jersey italianflag.svg|20px]] Italian Road Race Giovanni Visconti ;2008 :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Time Trial Stijn Devolder ;2009 :[[File:MaillotBielorrusia.PNG|20px]] Belarus Time Trial Branislau Samoilau :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Road Race Tom Boonen ;2010 :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Road Race Stijn Devolder :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Time Trial Stijn Devolder :[[File:MaillotBielorrusia.PNG|20px]] Belarus Time Trial Branislau Samoilau ;2011 :[[File:MaillotFra.PNG|20px]] French Road Race Sylvain Chavanel :[[File:MaillotCuracao.png|20px]] Curaçao Road Race Marc de Maar :[[File:MaillotCuracao.png|20px]] Curaçao Time Trial Marc de Maar ;2012 :[[File:MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG|20px]] Czech Cyclocross Zdeněk Štybar :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Road Race Tom Boonen :[[File:MaillotIrlanda.PNG|20px]] Irish Road Race Matt Brammeier :[[File:MaillotHolanda.PNG|20px]] Netherlands Road Race Niki Terpstra :[[File:MaillotPolonia.PNG|20px]] Polish Road Race Michał Gołaś :[[File:MaillotFra.PNG|20px]] French Time Trial Sylvain Chavanel :[[File:MaillotAllemania.svg|20px]] German Time Trial Tony Martin :[[File:MaillotSlovakia.svg|20px]] Slovak Time Trial Peter Velits :[[File:Jersey italianflag.svg|20px]] Italian Time Trial Dario Cataldo :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Time Trial Kristof Vandewalle :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Team Time Trial :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Time Trial Tony Martin ;2013 :[[File:MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG|20px]] Czech Cyclocross Zdeněk Štybar :[[File:MaillotFra.PNG|20px]] French Time Trial Sylvain Chavanel :[[File:MaillotAllemania.svg|20px]] German Time Trial Tony Martin :[[File:MaillotSlovakia.svg|20px]] Slovak Time Trial Peter Velits :[[File:MaillotPolonia.PNG|20px]] Polish Road Race Michał Kwiatkowski :[[File:MaillotReinoUnido.PNG|20px]] British Road Race Mark Cavendish :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Time Trial Kristof Vandewalle :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Team Time Trial :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Time Trial Tony Martin ;2014 :[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Cyclocross Zdeněk Štybar :[[File:MaillotPolonia.PNG|20px]] Polish Time Trial Michał Kwiatkowski :[[File:MaillotAllemania.svg|20px]] German Time Trial Tony Martin :[[File:MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG|20px]] Czech Road Race Zdeněk Štybar :[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Road Race Michał Kwiatkowski ;2015 :[[File:MaillotColombia.PNG|20px]] Colombian Time Trial Rigoberto Urán :[[File:MaillotAllemania.svg|20px]] German Time Trial Tony Martin :[[File:MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG|20px]] Czech Road Race Petr Vakoč :[[File:MaillotHolanda.PNG|20px]] Netherlands Road Race Niki Terpstra ;2016 :[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Track (Omnium) Fernando Gaviria :[[File:MaillotAllemania.svg|20px]] German Time Trial Tony Martin :[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Time Trial Bob Jungels :[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Road Race Bob Jungels :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Team Time Trial :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Time Trial Tony Martin ;2017 :[[File:MaillotNuevaZelanda.PNG|20px]] New Zealand Time Trial Jack Bauer :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Time Trial Yves Lampaert :[[File:MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG|20px]] Czech Road Race Zdeněk Štybar :[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Road Race Bob Jungels ;2018 :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Road Race Yves Lampaert :[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Time Trial Bob Jungels :[[File:Jersey italianflag.svg|20px]] Italian Road Race Elia Viviani :[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Road Race Michael Mørkøv :[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Road Race Bob Jungels :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Team Time Trial ;2019 :[[File:MaillotArgentina.png|20px]] Argentine Road Race Maximiliano Richeze :[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial Kasper Asgreen :[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Time Trial Bob Jungels :[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Road Race Bob Jungels :[[File:MaillotHolanda.PNG|20px]] Netherlands Road Race Fabio Jakobsen :[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Road Race Michael Mørkøv :[[File:European champion jersey 2016.svg|20px]] European Time Trial Remco Evenepoel :[[File:European champion jersey 2016.svg|20px]] European Road Race Elia Viviani :[[File:European champion jersey 2016.svg|20px]] European Track Championships (Madison) Michael Mørkøv ;2020 :[[File:MaillotNuevaZelanda.PNG|20px]] New Zealand Road Race Shane Archbold :[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Track Championships (Madison) Michael Mørkøv :[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Time Trial Bob Jungels :[[File:MaillotFra.PNG|20px]] French Time Trial Rémi Cavagna :[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial Kasper Asgreen :[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Road Race Kasper Asgreen :[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Road Race Julian Alaphilippe ;2021 :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Time Trial Yves Lampaert :[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial Kasper Asgreen :[[File:MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG|20px]] Czech Republic Time Trial, Josef Černý :[[File:MaillotPortugal.PNG|20px]] Portuguese Time Trial João Almeida :[[File:MaillotFra.PNG|20px]] French Road Race Rémi Cavagna :[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Road Race Julian Alaphilippe :[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Track Championships (Madison) Michael Mørkøv ;2022 :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Time Trial Remco Evenepoel :[[File:MaillotFra.PNG|20px]] French Road Race Florian Sénéchal :[[File:MaillotReinoUnido.PNG|20px]] British Road Race Mark Cavendish :[[File:European champion jersey 2016.svg|20px]] European Road Race Fabio Jakobsen :[[File: Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Road Race Remco Evenepoel ;2023 :[[File:MaillotFra.PNG|20px]] French Time Trial Rémi Cavagna :[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial Kasper Asgreen :[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Road Race Remco Evenepoel :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Time Trial Remco Evenepoel ;2024 :[[File:Gold medal olympic.svg|15px]] Olympic Road Race Remco Evenepoel :[[File:Gold medal olympic.svg|15px]] Olympic Road Time Trial Remco Evenepoel :[[File:European champion jersey 2016.svg|20px]] European Road Race Tim Merlier :[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Time Trial Remco Evenepoel

References

References

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