Eenkhoorn feels at home at Soudal Quick-Step after long break: "I think it suits me well"

After five years with Jumbo-Visma and two seasons with Lotto-Dstny, Dutchman Pascal Eenkhoorn is joining Soudal Quick-Step. Eenkhoorn was introduced on the The Wolfpack Howls podcast, ahead of starting his season in Australia in two weeks.

Eenkhoorn got to know his teammates and staff during the team days following the 2024 season and the December training camp. "You can see there’s a strong bond here, and it’s a very tight-knit team where everyone knows each other well. Of course, there are many new faces, so it’s sometimes tricky to remember all the names, but I feel very welcome. This will be my eighth year as a pro rider, so I already know almost all the riders from the peloton. Speaking the same language as part of the team and staff also makes things easier," explained the former Dutch national champion.

It’s been a while since Eenkhoorn was last seen in action. He competed at the European Championships on September 15, but his final race for his previous team was on September 8. It was a long break, but he made good use of it. "I didn’t race much at the end of the last season. I got married on October 4 and then went to South Africa with my wife. In the last week, I also trained there. We went on safari in Kruger Park, which I can highly recommend — it’s amazing."

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Eenkhoorn feels at home at Soudal Quick-Step

What can we expect from Eenkhoorn once he really starts donning the Soudal Quick-Step jersey? "I’m a versatile rider with an attacking, aggressive racing style. Over the past seven years, I’ve gained a lot of experience in all kinds of races, and different tactics. Hopefully, I can build on that, support the team leaders, and seize my own opportunities," he explained.

Soudal Quick-Step seems like the right fit for him. "Looking at the team’s history, you see they’ve always had an aggressive racing style where everyone gets their chances. It’s not like you always go into a race with just one leader. I think that suits me well. For the classics, we have many strong riders, so we need to race together to achieve good results."

Eenkhoorn, who already has five professional victories to his name, will start his season at the Tour Down Under. "I’m ready to start early. That way, I can quickly get used to my teammates and the equipment. Later, I’ll also race some Flemish Classics and the Ardennes races," he revealed, offering a glimpse of his program for the upcoming cycling season.

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