Lefevere on Remco Evenepoel's chances of winning Tour de France: "He has the potential, but I think Pogacar is still outclassed at the moment"

Patrick Lefevere and Remco Evenepoel have now both stepped away from Soudal - Quick-Step, making for the start of a new era. The former team manager has commented on the Olympic Champion's move to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and his ambition to win the Tour de France against Tadej Pogacar.

"He says he's focused on the Tour, but maybe a few one-day races will fall through the cracks. I don't think they're saying it yet," Lefevere said in words to Sporza. "Although they have a lot of good riders in that team".

Lefevere believes that a Tour of Flanders debut is possible. Although unlikely, the German team does not have a set leader, Evenepoel's program allows for it, and in recent years the race has become more of a climbing level test other than a very tactical affair. "Can that program still change? I don't know. They're German. We'll see," he joked.

However Evenepoel's ultimate goal is to win the Tour de France. He is taking to the start of the Grand Boucle next summer in Barcelona, letting go of the Giro d'Italia which has a more suitable route to his abilities. He is teaming up with Florian Lipowitz who was third at last year's edition, and a lineup that is still under construction.

"He says he wants to win the Tour and beat Tadej Pogacar. I wish him the best of luck. I'll remain a supporter, you know. I discovered him when I was 17. I'm not someone who just throws everything you've experienced for seven years in the trash," Lefevere assures.

But when it comes to positivity that he will be the World Champion, Lefevere is very cautious. "In my heart, I'll remain a fan. He has the potential, but I think Pogacar is still outclassed at the moment. Remco has already had a lot of setbacks. If he has a good winter now and can do what he wants, then we'll see".

In the future that could happen however, a lot depends on how he evolves now in a different environment. For the first time in his pro career Evenepoel has switched teams, and in Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe he finds a much more vast net of climbing support.

"I don't know if it's better than our team. Or my former team, I should say. We always did our best too, but with the resources we had. But how do you say that? Fresh air is the spice of life. They have more money and they can do what they want, but you can't buy the Tour," he adds. "He'll have to make do with his legs and his head."

"He probably has a better team, but with us he was only the leader. He says he doesn't have any problems with it now, but knowing him... And the other one (Florian Lipowitz, ed.) is German. I'm looking forward to it. If they get along well, there's something to be done".