"If he had gone, I would have been the richest in the pack" - Lefevere on Remco Evenepoel

Patrick Lefevere has talked about Julian Alaphilippe in a very strict tone in a recent interview, but regarding Remco Evenepoel the manager of Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team is clearly satisfied and has confirmed that currently the Belgian is on the right path.

“We don't want to cut corners with Remco, and neither does he," Lefevere told La Dernière Heure. "The goal is that he can, one day, play the leading roles in the Tour de France, but we have always said that he would first participate in the Vuelta and the Giro. He sticks to that and that's fine the way it is."

Although rumours emerged over his participation at the Tour de France, those were mostly due to his newly-acquired rainbow jersey. Taking his evolution step by step, racing the route that fits him the most with a massive difference in time-trialing kilometers, and allowing the team one more season to sign climbers to support him, have made the decision to ride the Corsa Rosa an easy one for Evenepoel who confirmed that goal earlier in November.

“You no longer have to limit yourself to winning the Tour de France to be one of the very best riders in the peloton," he said of the 22-year old. "The time when guys only raced 35 days a year depending on the Tour is over. Remco is capable of defending himself on all terrains, with the possible exception of a mass sprint. For me, he will one day be able to play a major role in the Flemish classics.”

Whilst his focus on the Giro d'Italia will naturally not allow him to carry the same form and preparation towards Liège-Bastogne-Liège - which he is the current champion of - he has pinpointed it as a race to target in 2023. His first part of the season will be fully focused in stage-racing except for those.

“He's going faster than I had imagined, he’s ahead of schedule," Lefevere commented, with Evenepoel winning the Vuelta a Espana on his first big tilt at a Grand Tour, and following that up with a world title. "He's a winner but probably won’t be nice when he has a bad day. But I have no doubt that he can handle that. Remco is calm, serene and down to earth. But he is a winner. Remco thinks of nothing but winning. It drives him on."

“Yes, but he remains humble but who says what he wants and feels. What is beautiful is that he always thanks his team a lot. It helps guys get down on their stomachs for him," he describes. Whilst he does not have the block as other World Tour teams do, he's managed to win the Vuelta nonetheless. The likes of Ilan van Wilder and Jan Hirt are expected to be his right-hand man in the mountains this year.

There were rumours of him signing for another team earlier in the year, but the money has been put aside in order to keep him as a leader in the team. “If he had gone, I would have been the richest in the pack, but I'm very glad he didn't. Lots of bonuses and bonuses. But this gives a lot of responsibility and confidence to the whole team," Lefevere concluded.