"I immediately thought of Patrick Lefevere. He is partly to blame" - Thijs Zonneveld reacts to Julian Alaphilippe's heartbreaking admission
CyclingSunday, 14 April 2024 at 10:53
In the days since Julian Alaphilippe made the shocking admission that he's continued riding recently with a fractured leg, worried about the potential criticism he'd get had he rested up, there has been some heavy criticism for Soudal - Quick-Step boss, Patrick Lefevere.
The outspoken team boss has never been shy of using his Het Nieuwsblad column to publicly slam Alaphilippe and according to ex-pro turned Sporza analyst, Thijs Zonneveld, Lefevere must take some blame for the former world champion's anxiety around admitting his injuries.
"When I read it, I immediately thought of Patrick Lefevere. He is partly to blame for this situation by putting pressure on riders like Alaphilippe," Zonneveld says to Sporza. "It's an old way of management: always putting riders on edge in the hope of performing extra. I don't know if it works, because riders already put enough pressure on themselves."
Although Zonneveld blames Lefevere, he's not entirely impressed with Alaphilippe risking his long-term health in such a manner either. "It is eating away at him that he is not delivering what he is paid for. What I hear is that he is trying to do everything he can to get back to that old level," says the analyst. "What he has done now has made it a bigger problem. It is a stupid choice, but one forced by an unsafe work environment."
"Every race you ride is a new opportunity to fall on the painful spot. It is extremely unwise. But it is very difficult to say that it is wiser to think long term. Riders live towards goals," Zonneveld continues. "Wout van Aert is now canceling the Giro. You don't decide that in one evening. There is a grieving process to say goodbye to a great goal. Teams are then important in the guidance."
"As fans and enthusiasts, we hoist riders on the shield when they continue. We see it as something heroic," Zonneveld concludes. "Fractures or cracks are often not looked at if there is relatively little trouble. I find that misplaced heroism harmful."
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- He's just not the same after the crash at La Vuelta. I hope the knee injury does not "Chris Froome" his career.
KerisVroom11-05-2025 - Well, I didn’t hear any strict instructions from management so why shouldn’t it be like Visma’s infamous Vuelta unless things heat up? Am sure they don’t regret sweeping the podium which was only possible because internal rivalry was at least as strong as external.Mistermaumau11-05-2025
- In principle, but he’ll always have that Planche des Belles Filles TdF loss in his mind nowadays so not sure he’ll be so keen on giving away anything anymoreif he doesn’t really have to. It’s a matter of weighing (dis)advantages and I’m not so sure the media obligations always outweigh the psychological effects that a win or domination bring, unless you’re bad at dealing with pressure which I doubt is the case with Primoz.Mistermaumau11-05-2025
- so sad...
maria2024202410-05-2025 - ahahahha.. but I think Roglic will be very happy to give you back the pink jersey (less interviews, less ceremonies, more time to rest).maria2024202410-05-2025
- Bummed for Wout. I hope he bounces back big tomorrowmij10-05-2025
- His manner of speech is that of someone who's totally laid back, not the nervous kind.KerisVroom10-05-2025
- wow, Isaac Del Torro can TT. I am betting that he can surpass Ayuso in the future.KerisVroom10-05-2025
- van Aert will be happy if he can stay with the front group in that last climb. Pedersen will win stage 3 :-)
DareDevil10-05-2025 - Not good for Landa. Whole season gone already.DareDevil10-05-2025
Alaphilippe is not performing the last few years, but the constant flow of nasty comments in the press from Lefevere will not help.
The person to blame is the idiot doctor who said it was upto Julian and the team to decide whether they can participate or not. The doctor should have put his foot down. They did the same thing with Remco when they hurried his rehabilitation.
Any chance he’ll get sued?
Any chance he'll get sued for rushing these riders' rehabilitations? Leg fractures are not type of injuries that will heal within weeks. They will took minimum 3-6 months to heal! Unbelieveable!
Lefevere can goto literal hell, this IS an outrageous way of management, having gone thru similar, Julian A needs to realise BIGTIME...
I would not want to know how painful it is, being force to ride for Giro, despite suffering from leg fractures🤕😰🤐... Even with 3 injections💉 of pain killers... It's got to be painful🤐🤕🤕
I take these kind of stories where the plot thickens every once in a while with a pinch of salt. Once you start to ask enough questions invariably you find there is much more to it.
Did Marion know, I can’t imagine her being the type to ALSO not say anything. There must have been quite a few people in the know, including doctors with some responsibility. I can only imagine his doctor is not a cycling fan and knew nothing of him riding in such a state? Ok, he may not be as visible as the US president or at the time Michael Jackson but seriously, it’s almost like a scene from Monty Python.
Whatever happened to transfers, he’s been there basically all his life and it was very good for him for a while.
I have no idea how flexible things are in cycling teams but whenever I had professional clashes with my bosses, if I didn’t leave, I found ways to cone to an arrangement.
If I was JA and things got to much for me or I needed to recover or had some kind of serious personal problem or even something I’d want to keep secret, I’d ask for a sabbatical, unpaid leave (don’t say you can’t afford that) or at least some changes to my workload. I get the feeling he’s never been able to open his mouth when it mattered, only in retrospect, maybe he should send Marion?
From what I've learnt over the yrs it's simple and literally being a robot, on a bike and performing...maybe teams differ but when you look at how riders are 'used', when they're going GOOD, teams will just carry on using them, till they're exhausted to near obliteration...
In 2013 he was happy with the team, but now... Complete nightmare for him. Hope he goes elsewhere, where he can get all the support he badly lacks at Quickstep😕
I don't believe that Lefevere is partly to blame for this situation, but rather solely to blame. I'd love to see Julian go to a new team next year, and receive all of the support that he deserves and is sorely lacking at Soudal - Quick-Step.
Why did he go there in the first place?
Yes, even Alaf had his good years but he’s also had chances to leave, at some point he’ll need to seize one, I just hope for him he’s not weighing the money aspect too much coz it’s obvious this is the kind of situation where money cannot by happiness or much else.
His contract will expire at the end of this year, right?
Wonder why he go to Quickstep in the first place🤔? Imagine you're force to race, despite having a fracture leg, unbelieveable! He could worsen that injury! 😡😡😡
Blame game... This is not new, right? Seen these drama at Man Utd🤐... Oh! Those Man Utd dramas are even worse🤐🤐🤐... NOT GOOD!