Patrick Lefevere happy with Evenepoel's assurance of staying with team in 2024: "He did many people in the team a favor with this"

The Remco Evenepoel and Soudal - Quick-Step saga has had many twists and turns this year but it now seems definitive that the Belgian will stay. He has once again stated that and that took some weight off Patrick Lefevere's shoulders.

“I am very happy here. It was just a few difficult moments, but next year we'll go for it. We will try to build and perform in the races when we have to. I have no reason to be dissatisfied here. We are going to get the most out of it," Evenepoel said during the Vuelta a Espana. However statements before and after the Vuelta from both him and his father (and agent Patrick Evenepoel) left open the possibility of the Belgian leaving the team. Because INEOS Grenadiers have the interest and financial possibilities, this was made more possible.

However after the rumours of the merger between Jumbo-Visma and Soudal - Quick-Step, Evenepoel assured once again that he will be staying with the team. “He did many people in the team a favor with this," Lefevere told VTM. "I was already happy, because he had already said it in the Vuelta a España, but apparently people don't believe him. I think he was very clear now.”

With Mikel Landa and Ilan van Wilder, Evenepoel will have some support in the mountains of the 2024 Tour de France, however that will still most likely be inferior to the weapons that Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates will be taking to France.