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"He will now want to peak one more time in Zurich" - Remco Evenepoel's golden summer not over just yet according to Patrick Lefevere
CyclingSunday, 04 August 2024 at 14:30
Remco Evenepoel has had himself a very successful summer so far. With a podium finish and stage win on his Tour de France debut earlier this year, the Belgian has gone even better at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, becoming the first man to win gold both in the road race and the individual time trial.
After edging out Filippo Ganna for time trial gold last weekend, Evenepoel was again riding alone to the line on Saturday, as he soloed to a scintillating victory in the gold medal road race in some style. Whilst the Soudal - Quick-Step leader was of course, riding in the colours of his nation rather than his trade team, his team boss Patrick Lefevere was watching the action with a keen eye.
In Lefevere's mind, once Evenepoel attacked, the victory was never in doubt for the Belgian superstar. "Yes, then I knew: 'ciao'. If you saw him in the time trial, that was impressive. They would have to come from far away to get him back," the Soudal - Quick-Step boss reflects in conversation with HLN.
"If someone were to do this at 34, you would immediately say: you can stop your career. He is only 24. What's next? He will now want to peak one more time in Zurich. I have heard that he must be up for that too," Lefevere continues, hinting Evenepoel's golden summer may still include a Rainbow Jersey win for the third successive year. “The team did really great. A big thumbs up for the Belgians. Wout van Aert had two great counters against Mathieu van der Poel . They created an ideal scenario.”
After Evenepoel' time trial triumph, Lefevere gave a typically glum response as he lamented the fact Soudal - Quick-Step get nothing out of Olympic victories. Although he was more upbeat after a second gold, this fact was clearly still nagging the outspoken team boss. “For me it will be a multiple of that amount,” laughs Lefevere when asked about Evenepoel's 50,000 euro bonus from the Belgian Olympic committee for the gold medal win. “A legacy from previous contract negotiations. That's just how it goes. He earned it. Although it remains a shame that our sponsors get little to nothing out of it.”
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