"Ineos is a closed chapter that never actually was one" - Patrick Lefevere on Remco Evenepoel transfer rumours

Remco Evenepoel to INEOS Grenadiers will not happen. A huge rumour with big implications which had been ongoing for the past few months has recently faded, and now Patrick Lefevere has reassured with talks with Evenepoel and his father (and agent).

“To the regret of those who would like it otherwise, I had a good conversation last week in the Vuelta, with Remco and with his father. The content remains between us, but a lot has been cleared up," Lefevere told Het Nieuwsblad. “We look ahead again and leave all the commotion and especially miscommunication behind us. Ineos is a closed chapter that never actually was one."

Throughout the past months there had been a public spat, with Patrick Evenepoel and Lefevere disagreeing on conditions of the Belgian's contract. It got to the point that Remco himself, at the time winning Clásica San Sebastián and the time-trial World Championships, had to be responding to questions on a possible transfer and was bothered by the situation. The lack of support in the mountains was a key point, but financial motives as well, when comparing to other stars.

The tension that built up publicly boosted the questions, but now Lefevere has responded to the topic in a new interview openly tackling and taking down the possibility of an early leave from the team. "Remco is a strong, tough guy, but of course the non-sporting stories also played their part. The storm of recent months has been one in a teacup, but the media has blown it up to unprecedented proportions. Remco says otherwise, but somewhere that must have cost energy. In any case, the timing was highly unfortunate," he concluded.