"In 7 years, we have only argued once": Lefevere, after Evenepoel's departure from Quick-Step

The story of Remco Evenepoel and Soudal - Quick-Step came to an end at Il Lombardia last Saturday. It was a rollercoaster with the Belgian team with many ups and downs, but ultimately their paths split after seven seasons together. He will now head to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe with no regrets and no bad relationship with his teammates and management.

Patrick Lefevere, who retired as director of Soudal - Quick-Step at the end of 2024, has spoken out again about Remco Evenepoel's departure on the occasion of his last race with the team. He did so in an interview with the cyclist's own father, Patrick Evenepoel.

"Remco has raced seven years for our team. In that time, we have indeed had only one argument," Lefevere said, to which Evenepoel's father replied, "I wouldn't even call it a fight. More like a difference of opinion."

Again, Patrick Lefevere commented, "Do you know many couples who have gone seven years without a single argument? I won't say it was an unimportant event, but in our case it's immediately in the papers."

"Look, I'm now a youth team manager myself (the R.EV Cycling Team). It's amazing what that entails. Now I understand better what your position as director entailed, Patrick. I experience it at the youth level. What must it be like in the World Tour? I can only say that, for our part, we still have great respect for Patrick," Remco Evenepoel's father said.

Despite some disappointments, Remco Evenepoel's 2025 season has been a great one. He won the time trial at World Championships for a third time in a row, also became European and Belgian champion in the same discipline, secured an iconic sprint victory against Wout van Aert at the Brabantse Pijl, triumphed in a time trial at the Tour de Romandie, another in the Dauphiné against Pogacar and Vingegaard, one more in the Tour de France and an overall victory at the Tour of Britain.

And if it were not for Pogacar himself, it must be said that Evenepoel would also have won the Road World Championships in Kigali, the European Road Race and Il Lombardia in a row, as he was by far the best of the humans.