“I don’t like him” - Patrick Lefevere angered by Red-Bull-BORA-hansgrohe’s pursuit of Remco Evenepoel

The 2024 season was a standout year for Remco Evenepoel, and his achievements have left team manager Patrick Lefevere of Soudal Quick-Step in a fierce battle to retain his star rider.

The 24-year-old Belgian showcased his immense talent by finishing third in the Tour de France, winning two Olympic gold medals, and successfully defending his world time trial championship.

With such an impressive season behind him, Evenepoel is in high demand, and Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe has been particularly keen on securing him for their roster.

Ralph Denk, the team manager for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, has made no secret of his interest in Evenepoel. This isn’t a recent development, however, the German team has shown interest in the Belgian prodigy for years. Since Red Bull joined as a significant financial backer, their desire to bring Evenepoel into their ranks has only grown stronger.

In a recent interview with Het Nieuwsblad, Lefevere expressed his frustration with Denk’s approach to attracting riders under contract. “Do you know my friend Ralph Denk? He's done the same thing twice: he offers a contract with very high bonuses, which is not done with riders under contract,” Lefevere stated. “He did it once four years ago and now again. Last week I heard that he also visited Tom Pidcock. Denk, I don't like him.”

As for Evenepoel’s future, his sights are set firmly on the 2025 Tour de France, where he will once again face off against rivals like Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe’s own Primoz Roglic. Lefevere recognises the significance of Evenepoel competing in the Tour, noting its substantial impact on media and sponsorship attention. “He can no longer stay away from France. For himself, but also sponsor-wise. A Tour with or without Remco, that makes a huge difference for the media. Publicity-wise, the Tour eats up everything.”

The details of Evenepoel’s race calendar remain undecided, particularly regarding a possible combination with the Giro d’Italia. Lefevere is treading carefully when it comes to his input on Evenepoel’s schedule, saying, “I will not comment on the combination with the Giro. Not so long ago I said that Remco should ride Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders, but then he immediately said that he would not do that. I will not interfere with his program. It has already been discussed at the team days in Turnhout. They will finally fix it in December.”

With so much at stake, Lefevere faces a critical challenge in retaining Evenepoel amid intense competition and growing external interest. The battle to keep Belgium’s brightest cycling talent promises to be one of the biggest stories of the 2025 season.