Patrick Lefevere: "Jumbo-Visma are now the team that we were a few years ago"

Monday, 27 February 2023 at 16:00

The end of an era has been reached, it had become apparent for the last couple of seasons but Soudal - Quick-Step's position as a dominant classics team is no more, and team manager Patrick Lefevere admits that role is now with Jumbo-Visma.

"In the end, we have to conclude that Jumbo-Visma are now the team that we were a few years ago. I didn't come back from Rwanda for this," Lefevere said in very honest words to Het Nieuwsblad after the end of Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne. "We let ourselves be a bit overwhelmed by the yellow. But there are also guys with us who can ride like Benoot. If Van Hooydonck gets into a break, then there could be four of us with him."

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The team has in the past achieved countless great victories, but above all had dominant performances throughout entire springs, with very strong lineups which they could use to victory with several riders in several scenarios. After the Opening Weekend, Lefevere believes the opposite is seen within the team.

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"But that won't happen. I have the impression that we want to race defensively, that we don't want to take the bull by the horns. We're not used to that," he continued. "Bad luck? Ballerini was out front when they got away on Trieu but dropped away, as did Florian Sénéchal. Yes, Lampaert was behind the crash but that didn't happen at the front, let's be clear."

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At Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Ballerini raced to sixth as the team's only figure in the peloton. At Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne Fabio Jakobsen could only sprint to 9th - also as the team's only finisher in the peloton, after the team tried to reel back the attacks. An underwhelming Opening Weekend by all measures for the Belgian team, who have witnessed first hand the domination of Jumbo-Visma.

"That's the difference – we used to race at the front. Then you're not behind the crashes. We once rode away at E3 Harelbeke because the rest fell behind us. Now, they all race in a scattered way. These are the same riders as two years ago. Ballerini won Omloop then and Lampaert is still Lampaert. But it's true that we have shifted emphasis a little within the team. There are a few who are coming to the end of their contracts. If they want an extension, then I will be on the other side of the table," he states.

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The pressure is on for Quick-Step who take Kasper Asgreen and Fabio Jakobsen to Le Samyn in chase of an important boost of morale. Despite the spring being far from over, the early signs were far from good and that is known within the team.

"Our guys have been away at altitude training too, eh? But not at the same altitude, I think," Lefevere continued. "We bought altitude tents on purpose so we could sleep in them in Calpe. Jumbo-Visma impresses, but they also just have a very strong team. I know that."

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"We shouldn't panic now, though. The season has only just started and with Remco's overall win at the UAE Tour we have already won our 12th race. I don't feel angry – we have to go through this. The season is still long," Lefevere concluded.