Cycling: At Quick-Step Floors (formerly: Etixx-Quick-Step) not only the name is changing for the coming season, the face of the team will also be different. Despite all the changes, the orientation should remain largely the same - with strong drivers for the classics and a strong sprint train around Marcel Kittel, daily victories should again be the big goal of the Belgian racing team.
Quick-Step Floors 2017: Transfers
departures
Maxime Bouet (Fortuneo – Vital Concept)
Nikolas Maes (Lotto Soudal)
Tony Martin (Katusha Alpecin)
Gianni Meersman (Fortuneo – Vital Concept)
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Wanty Groupe Gobert)
Stijn Vandenbergh (AG2R)
Carlos Verona (Orica Scott)
Lukasz Wiśniowski (Team Sky)
Additions
Jack Bauer (Cannondale Drapac)
Eros Capecchi (Astana)
Remi Cavagna (Little Constantia)
Tim Declercq (Top Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise)
Dries Devenyns (IAM Cycling)
Philippe Gilbert (BMC)
Enric Mas (Little Constantia)
Maximilian Schachmann (Little Constantia)
Team 2017 (preliminary)
Julian Alaphilippe
Jack Bauer
Tom Boonen
Gianluca Brambilla
Eros Capecchi
Remi Cavagna
Laurens de Plus
David of the Cross
Tim Cevlercq
Dries Deveynns
Fernando Gaviria
Philip Gilbert
Bob jungels
Iljo Keisse
Marcel Kittel
Yves Lampaert
Daniel Martin
David Martinelli
Enric Mas Nicolau
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
Fabio Sabatini
Maximilian schachmann
Pieter Serry
Zdenek Stybar
Niki Terpstra
Matteo Trentin
Peter Vakoc
Martin Velits
Julien Vermote
Quick-Step Floors 2017: Team Bikes and Equipment
We only have to say a few words about the team bikes and equipment of the Belgian team - it changes here: nothing. The established cooperation with the US manufacturer Specialized will be continued, as will the supply of components by the Asian bicycle giant Shimano.
Quick-Step Floors 2017: Now it's the youngsters' turn
In the case of the Quick-Step Floors team, not only will the name change a little for the coming season, but the squad also had to accept some corrections. With Gianni Meersman the squad loses a strong sprinter, with Tony Martin one of the best time trialists in the world, with Maxime Bouet a climber and with Stijn Vandenbergh and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck two classic hunters. The newcomers will probably not be able to close these gaps right away. Jack Bauer, Eros Capecchi and Dries Devenyns are established pros, but not winners. Star purchaser Philippe Gilbert also has to show us that he can still win big races. Because at Quick-Step Floors, that's all that counts. The Belgian team will be judged by their really big successes. And this is exactly what can happen again in 2017, because many of the guarantors of success have stayed in the team and, above all, have become a year more experienced.
This applies to Julian Alaphilippe, for example, who was able to take another step forward in his development in 2016. We can expect him to be even stronger in 2017. He can win the Flèche Wallonne against Alejandro Valverde as well as difficult sprint duels against Peter Sagan. The versatile Frenchman will form a tremendously strong trio for hilly races alongside Philippe Gilbert and Daniel Martin. Quick-Step Floors seems to be almost evenly matched for the challenges of the cobblestones. Tom Boonen, Zdenek Stybar and Niki Terpstra are big names in this field. The Belgian squad is probably even stronger in the sprint area. With Marcel Kittel you have a current top sprinter in your own ranks and with Fernando Gaviria maybe the upcoming sprint star. The only weak point for Quick-Step Floors is once again in the mountains, although they have also been able to improve bit by bit in this area over the past few years. Daniel Martin, Gianluca Brambilla and Bob Jungels may be able to make another step up, but they will probably not play first fiddle in their Grand Tour squads again.