10/12/2023

Patrick Lefevere blasts BORA - hansgrohe manager and reveals he made an offer to Remco Evenepoel behind Lefevere's back

Pandora's box has been opened with the transfer of Cian Uijtdebroeks to Jumbo-Visma and at the time being, World Tour team managers have begun an all-out word battle on social media. Patrick Lefevere wrote 'so please don't cry now' to BORA - hansgrohe manager Ralph Denk and reveals he made a bid to sign Remco Evenepoel behind his back in the past.

It is a story that is reaching far and wide. Cian Uijtdebroeks broke his contract with BORA - hansgrohe reportedly on the 1st of December, and as soon as that happened Jumbo-Visma entered serious negotiations and is said to have signed the Belgian on the 7th. The deal was announced yesterday and the situation confirmed by his agency, however BORA put out a statement in which the 20-year will no leave the team.

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This discussion is far from over but several others have appeared in the meantime as a result. Several World Tour managers are criticizing Jumbo-Visma's move and Cofidis' Cedric Vasseur went as far as calling for Richard Plugge (Jumbo-Visma's CEO) to resign as head of AIGCP. And in the opposite direction, criticism is now flying towards BORA - hansgrohe manager Ralph Denk, as Patrick Lefevere reveals a discussion that took place two years ago and involved a bid to sign Remco Evenepoel.

At the time, the Belgian was recovering from his crash at Il Lombardia, where he suffered severe injuries. Lefevere reveals that on the 21st of January he met with Denk in Brussels and had a meeting. At the time Soudal - Quick-Step's future was uncertain and Denk expressed interest in making an offer to sign Evenepoel. The two agreed not to do it until the 31st of March as Lefevere - successfully - kept the team upright and with stable sponsorship.

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However the story did not end there. Ralph Denk sent a written transfer proposal to Remco Evenepoel's father and agent Patrick on the 8th of March, breaking the vocal agreement. Lefevere now shares the story and ends the message in an ironic tone, criticizing the German manager.

"On 21/1/2021 I met Ralph Denk in Brussels. We agreed to wait to do an offer at Remco Evenepoel until at least end of mars (March, ed.) 31 after I released my riders if I didn’t had a future. Mars 8 he did an written offer to the father of Remco so please don’t cry now"