Alberto Contador dubious about Soudal-Jumbo merger but says it ‘wouldn’t be great news’ for cycling

Alberto Contador has played down speculation that Soudal Quick-Step and Jumbo-Visma are set to merge – but says it “would not be great news” if it did happen.

The two teams are reportedly in discussions about a potential merger as soon as next year.

“It’s [been] difficult weeks for us, so this victory is really for my team-mates and for our staff, to show that we don’t agree with all this s***,” Van Wilder said.

But speaking exclusively to Eurosport, Contador said it was difficult to envisage the two teams combining.

“There is a lot of talk about this possible merger between Jumbo and Soudal but, to this day, they are rumours.

“There are rumours as there have always been in cycling; since when I was professional I saw rumours that appeared in the media.

“I don’t know what is true because it is difficult for me to imagine a merger between Jumbo and Soudal due to different factors: due to the time of year we are in, in which for all the runners and other personnel it would be delicate.”

A deal between two of the sport’s biggest teams, with some of the best riders, would inevitably present challenges, and Contador feels it may become too complicate to execute.

“Thinking about the compatibility of some sponsors and, without going any further, we are talking about bicycle brands,” he said.

“A possible merger between Jumbo and Soudal, I think one of the difficult points to manage would be the bicycle brand, we are talking about very powerful brands that surely do not want to separate themselves from any of these teams and, above all, because there may be riders with personal contracts with them such as Remco [Evenepoel] with [bike manufacturer] Specialized.

“It’s hard for me to believe in that merger, especially keeping the best riders.

“Remco, faced with a possible merger, I don’t think he would like to share a team with a rider who has just won the Tour de France [Jonas Vingegaard], a rider who is going to return to the Tour de France to win it, and in Remco’s head is the power to go and compete and win the Tour de France in the future.

“These merger rumours could perhaps leave some brokers who in principle we are assuming are going to get together and who are not going to join.

“In the case of Remco, something similar would happen with the Tour de France.

“They are rumours, there is a lot left to confirm and give a more judgmental opinion.”

If a deal does materialise, a number of riders could be left without a team and staff without a job.

“It is clear that, if this merger were carried out, it would not be great news.

“It wouldn’t be great news because we are talking about the fact that there are 70 families in Jumbo-Visma and there are 70 families in Soudal-Quick Step and there would be no place for everyone to find equipment and staff as well and even be able to find it in good condition so I don’t think it would be too interesting.

“We have to talk about everything that, above all, for now are rumours. No team has commented on it and most rumours remain rumours. We’ll see what the next few days have in store for us.”