"10 million per year plus three acolytes including team manager Klaas Lodewyck" - Belgian expert reveals inside information on Red Bull's contract offer to Remco Evenepoel
Cycling
Earlier this year, there were intense rumours that Remco Evenepoel could depart Soudal - Quick-Step in a peloton shaking transfer to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. Although that ultimately hasn't come to pass, according to Belgian cycling expert Michel Wuyts, the contract was on the table for the time trial world champion.
"After the wild dance of the richest teams around his person, Evenepoel's will becomes law at the somewhat impoverished Soudal - Quick-Step," writes the experienced Wuyts in his column for HLN, revealing the details of what was offered to Evenepoel by Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. "The contract was indeed ready for Evenepoel. Ten million per year plus three acolytes including team manager Lodewyck, according to a high-ranking and valued member of the Quick-Step camp."
Understandably, this offer didn't go down too well with some at Soudal - Quick-Step, most notably the always outspoke team boss Patrick Lefevere. "Lefevere set up obstacles for the transfer of the sidekicks and glued Evenepoel on for the duration of his contract," Wuyts explains. "Not only with sweet words and the recruitment of performance manager Frederik Broché. He partly closed the financial gap with the decisive input of COO Jurgen Foré."
As mentioned, Evenepoel is now set to remain Quick-Step leader in 2025 and has been gifted a nice pay rise too, although it's still notably short of the 10million offer from Red Bull, with according to Wuyts, 5million per year in the Belgian's new deal. "That seems a lot, but justified given Evenepoel's second place in the UCI ranking. The amount provides a sufficient basis to tackle the Tour project ambitiously and harmoniously. Two more years, right?" The expert continues. "Would a transfer to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe have brought Evenepoel closer to the yellow jersey? The Germans' reinforcements are called Tratnik, Lazkano and Moscon, who is appreciated by Evenepoel. Pacemakers, controllers. No high-lift trucks. And what do you do with Roglic? So the answer leans towards 'no'."
What worries me about SQS is the emotion of their leadership. You need a calm hand on the tiller, not an angry old man lashing out at modernity. And much as I love Landa, the team simply doesn't have the strength in depth to support a potential winner - contrast UAE. I'd love to see Remco take the fight to Pog and Jonas but their teams are stronger and that will make it hard for him.
I agree he should have gone. It isn't as if Roglic would have harmed his chances in the Tour. As for riders being poached by teams with more money, welcome to professional sport. If you don't like it, get better sponsors and pay more.
Remco should have taken the money and run away from QST! A cyclist's career can end suddenly due to crashes. Cash in when you can.
He should have taken the deal. He will waste another 2 years at QST. With Roglic he could have formed a 2 pronged attack
Going to Bora would have taken pressure off both Remco and Roglic. Bora would be competitive in all three GT while both riders would not have to do all three. In two of the three they could have the 2 pronged attack that you mention. Patrick L can complain even about his good riders and plays mind games with them. I would not have stayed.
Maybe, on the other hand, 2 years from now with a bit more progress, it will be 12 million plus whatever conditions he wants, Rogliç will no longer be a potential obstacle but probably more an advantage. In the meantime, he has a cushy no-stress period in order to develop.
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