Patrick Lefevere is currently in Hungary for the Grande Partenza of the Giro d'Italia, and in his weekly column at Het Nieuwsblad he has focused on the race's start, and his thoughts regarding the start abroad.
The manager of Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team has pointed out though that his schedule during the visit will include talks with agents, with the intent of bringing in new signings in 2023 for the Belgian team: “What I will not escape from during my visit to the Giro, are the conversations with the agents," he said.
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"Of course I am also looking forward to the right reinforcements. On my list: a sprinter and someone who can assist Remco Evenepoel in the high mountains. Given its evolution this year, it is logical that we invest in it," he added. With the expected departure of Mark Cavendish at the end of the year, Lefevere is already on the hunt for a sprinter that will fill the void in the team.
With Fabio Jakobsen under contract for next season it won't be an absolute leadership, however the team has a long history of having several top sprinters at once. In the last few weeks Lefevere has brought up Tim Merlier has a major target, but the Belgian sprinter was forced to miss the race after a crash at Paris-Roubaix.
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He commented about RCS [Giro d'Italia organizers] regarding an apparent internal debate: “They are sometimes a bit Calimero: complaining about the impact of corona, lamenting that we are not coming to the Giro with Evenepoel or Alaphilippe. Mark Cavendish – fifteen-time stage winner – apparently doesn't count," he added.
“For us, a foreign start is no more or no less than an extra cost. Logistically, we have to run a double program: one bus for Hungary and a second bus for the restart in Sicily," he concluded.
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Thank you for making it an amazing and unforgettable day here at the #Giro, Budapest 😍 Photo: @giroditalia
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