Lefevere in conversations with agents in Budapest to reinforce Quick-Step in 2023

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.

"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. 

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.