Lefevere on the Vuelta a España: "Who says Remco is less strong than Vingegaard?"

Soudal Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere shared his thoughts on the future of his team in an interview with dhnet.be and the uncertainty surrounding Belgian star Remco Evenepoel ahead of the start of the Vuelta a España.

Since his arrival in Barcelona on Friday evening, Lefevere has been in high spirits, reflecting his unwavering confidence in his team. Saturday's midday meeting witnessed his confident and energetic attitude as he addressed the thorny issues surrounding his team and, in particular, young sensation Evenepoel.

"I have no intention of giving credence to all the nonsense I read," Lefevere stated forcefully, referring to the numerous rumors that have been circulating about the future of his team and Evenepoel in particular. These opening words made it clear that the experienced coach is not willing to allow speculation to affect his team's approach.

Lefevere reiterated his confidence in his motto of solving problems when they arise. "You solve a problem when there is one. And at the moment there isn't one," he said with conviction, demonstrating his ability to maintain a balanced perspective even in the midst of uncertainty. This pragmatic attitude is a testament to his vast experience at the helm of the Belgian national team.

When it came to the subject of Remco Evenepoel, Lefevere was unsparing in his praise and expectations. "When your name is Remco Evenepoel, you are a favorite everywhere," he emphasized with a smile. Although the Vingegaard-Roglic duo is also in the spotlight, Lefevere doesn't think Evenepoel is feeling any less pressure. "From our side, he doesn't have any. But you know as well as I do that when Remco says he's aiming for the podium in Madrid, what he wants is victory. Who says Remco is less strong than Vingegaard?" he said confidently.

On Vingegaard's surprise inclusion in the competition, Lefevere admitted his initial surprise. However, he revealed that Richard Plugge, general manager of Jumbo-Visma, brought this news to him at the end of the Tour de France. Although surprised, Lefevere made light of it.

As for concerns about Vingegaard and Roglic coexisting on the same team, Lefevere had an interesting perspective. "Having multiple leaders at the start of a race is an incredible asset," he declared. He recalled his own innovative strategy in the past, where in one edition of Paris-Roubaix, seven of the eight riders on his team had the potential to win. For Lefevere, this situation is a "luxury problem," and he argued that diversifying the leadership can be an answer to the possibility of a leader retiring due to unforeseen circumstances.