What's next for Soudal Quick-Step after flawless Giro start? 'We're not thinking about that yet'

The opening weekend of the Giro d'Italia was an enormous success for Soudal Quick-Step. Thanks to Paul Magnier, the Belgian squad already have two stage wins to their name and the Frenchman also spent a day in the pink jersey. Is the Giro already a success? Or does The Wolfpack have even greater ambitions for the weeks ahead? CEO Jurgen Foré gave his answer to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.

It was a massive crash that decapitated the opening stage of the Giro, but Soudal Quick-Step were well positioned at the front and stayed out of trouble. Magnier sprinted through the streets of Burgas to claim the first pink jersey of the race. In stage three there was another sprint finish, and once again it fell to the swift Frenchman. A day in pink and two stage wins in three days: already banked.

Foré's summary of the Bulgarian opening weekend is the logical one: "It couldn't have started much better." The team had mapped out the possibilities well in advance. "When we drew up our plans last winter, we had already earmarked the Giro as a race with plenty of opportunities for Paul — and with a chance of the pink jersey too."

That did not mean placing pressure on the young Frenchman. "But we certainly did put the work in for this Giro. Last year Paul was also on the start line — to spend two weeks learning what a Grand Tour demands — but this time it was for real," said the CEO, who is pleased by more than just the two victories.

"Of course the wins are wonderful — but what really gives me the most pleasure is seeing a real team out there. Even the climbers want to do their bit in the sprint build-up, to the point where Jasper [Stuyven] asked them on Sunday inside the final five kilometres to go off the front to create space. That is The Wolfpack I want to see."

"On their terrain, they are all professionals," Foré continued. "Do not underestimate the role of Fabio" — Van den Bossche — "either. It is a rare skill to be able to thread through the peloton three riders deep, from the five-kilometre mark to the two-kilometre mark."

The CEO had been in contact with Stuyven during the week. "At his own request. I told him how much Paul still had to learn from him. It seemed like a good moment for Jasper to stay close to Paul — to make a plan together for each day, to keep him focused and give him confidence. I have to say, he is doing that very well."

And what now, with two stage wins already secured? "Paul's victories bring a sense of ease — but not a sense of letting up," Foré stressed. Because: "Every day is an opportunity." Which means the purple points jersey could yet come into view. Though: "We're not thinking about the points classification yet. We certainly won't be pushing Paul too hard — but if more wins or close finishes come, it could appear on the horizon."

Soudal Quick-Step have further ambitions, too. "I'm thinking, for example, of Stuyven or Andrea Raccagni getting into a breakaway. And after Blockhaus — the first uphill finish — we'll see whether we can also pursue a general classification result with Zana. Winning stages and racing aggressively: those remain our goals for the coming weeks," the CEO concluded.