Soudal-QuickStep and Specialized set to end near-20-year partnership, according to report

Soudal-QuickStep and Specialized are reportedly set to conclude their near two-decade partnership in 2027, with the Belgian WorldTour team poised to switch to Merida Bikes. This move comes after the expiry of their current six-year agreement, originally signed in 2021 by team manager Patrick Lefevre. Merida, which lost its WorldTour presence following the end of its deal with Bahrain Victorious last season, will thus return to the top tier through this new collaboration. The partnership between Soudal-QuickStep and Specialized dates back to 2006, when the team, then known as Quickstep-Innergetic, engaged in a competitive bidding process to secure the American brand’s bikes. Although the team briefly switched to Eddy Merckx Cycles for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, they reverted to Specialized in 2012, maintaining that relationship ever since. Over the years, this alliance has been marked by numerous high-profile victories, including Tom Boonen’s Tour de France green jersey in 2006, and more recently, Remco Evenepoel’s Vuelta a España triumph in 2022. Riders have played a significant role in shaping Specialized’s product development, with feedback from athletes like Kasper Asgreen and Remco Evenepoel influencing key innovations. Evenepoel, in particular, has been closely involved in the design of several models, including the Tarmac SL8 and the TT5 aero helmet, as well as his own line of lightweight shoes. His departure to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe at the end of 2025 marks a notable shift, reflecting Specialized’s evolving strategy to focus more on individual athlete sponsorships rather than team-wide agreements. Specialized’s recent approach has seen the brand follow star riders such as Peter Sagan and Demi Vollering to their new teams, signalling a possible move away from maintaining multiple men’s WorldTour team partnerships. It remains unclear whether the company will seek to sponsor another men’s WorldTour team following the end of its relationship with Soudal-QuickStep. Both parties have been contacted for comment but so far have remained silent on the reported changes.