Lefevere on women's cycling: Look at the minimum wages, 60.000€/year on WT level. I grant it to them, but some aren’t worth that.”

In the opinion of Patrick Lefevere, the growth of women's cycling is being artificially stimulated, rather than occurring organically. The boss of Soudal Quick-Step did not mince his words when discussing the current state of women's cycling.

“I definitely believe in the potential of women's cycling, don't get me wrong, it's just that it's being artificially pushed at the moment. Take the minimum wage, for example: in the WorldTour that is 60,000 euros on an annual basis, the same amount as for men. That is not okay,” Lefevere told De Krant van West-Vlaanderen.

It is important to consider that the UCI has established regulations mandating a minimum wage of 32,102 euros for riders employed by Women's WorldTeams in 2023, with subsequent increases to 35,000 euros in 2024 and 38,000 euros in 2025. Notably, neopros are subject to a lower minimum salary of approximately 6,000 euros per year.

While he does not have anything against women's cycling, he advocates for a natural progression for the sport. He posits that the sport still has a lot of ground to cover before such a significant minimum wage can be warranted.

“I wish them wholeheartedly, but there are riders who are not worth that amount at all. In the Tour last year, for example, they had to increase the time limit because otherwise half the peloton would have arrived outside of time. You don't pay 60,000 euros for someone who can't come along, do you? There are certainly riders who earn that amount, and some much more, but today the top in women's cycling is just not wide enough to justify that minimum wage," concluded Lefevere.