Soudal Quick-Step teammate on Evenepoel's transfer: "It's going to open a new door in the squad"

“It's not the end of the team,” the 21-year-old Frenchman told Cyclingnews from the Tour of Poland. Magnier believes that Evenepoel's departure offers opportunities. “There are other riders who might come through; it's going to open a new door in the squad.”

The Frenchman knows how much will change for him. “Remco and I didn't have the same program, so it doesn't change things for me so much, but a new door will open. I just hope things work out for us in the future with the team, and I also hope he has a good future with his new team, too,” he said.

Whether a new door opens or not, Soudal Quick-Step already showed in the Tour de France that it can win without Evenepoel. Merlier took two stage wins, but the most beautiful was that of Valentin Paret-Peintre. Magnier's compatriot won on day sixteen on the legendary Mont Ventoux. “There will certainly be other riders who might really break through, such as Merlier and Valentin in the Tour.”

“Remco is really someone with a lot of talent, he has really helped the team,” Magnier knows. “But it could still work out well. We'll have to wait and see what happens in the future.” In any case, the fast Frenchman is happy with his team. “I'm very pleased with the team spirit, which is why I signed on for another two years. It's a great team and a great family.”

After the Tour of Poland, Magnier still has the Renewi Tour and the Bretagne Classic-Ouest France to look forward to this year. The Frenchman finished an impressive second in the latter race last year. "After that, we'll see. Things are going well here in Poland, with a second place on the first day, which wasn't too bad. I'll give it my all again in stage 4," he says, looking ahead to a new opportunity on Thursday.