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Patrick Lefevere talks about his problem with the Olympic Games: "They erase the publicity of the team"
CyclingSaturday, 03 August 2024 at 12:00
Patrick Lefevere notably wasn't overly happy after Remco Evenepoel's victory in the Olympic Games' time-trial, and in this Saturday's new column the manager of Soudal - Quick-Step goes deeper into his relationship with the Olympic Games and why he is not so fond of them.
"I have to admit that my relationship with the event is twofold. For the athlete himself, the Games are the best, the highest. You are an Olympic champion for the rest of your life," Lefevere said in his weekly column to Het Nieuwsblad. But Lefevere, who is always very keen on the financial side of his team's business and of his athletes, explains some of the past experiences that do not please him so much after his riders' success.
"After Pascal Richard and Paolo Bettini, Remco Evenepoel is now the third Olympic champion that I have in my team. But that's where it hurts. We, as a team, have nothing to do with the Olympic Games. The fact that they are riding for Belgium during the Games is not my frustration. What does frustrate me is the following," he continues.
"I am a customer of Belfius. When I open the app of my bank account, I see that a picture of Remco is being used for and by the Olympic committee. They use a picture of Remco in his world champion jersey, but they erase the publicity of the team. That is not okay at all". Lefevere believes this does not help the team. Although it must be said, it does not harm it either.
'We ourselves, as a team, have not signed any contract with the BOIC. All portrait rights belong to us. If Belfius wants to make publicity with Remco Evenepoel in a jersey of the team, they should leave our publicity, I think. I strongly wonder whether we should just let this pass," he states. The Belgian did not make the trip to Paris either for the race, but has been able to enjoy Remco Evenepoel's major success over the past month.
"Why would I go to Paris? They first do a big lap and then you see them pass by three more times in the city itself. That is of no use to me. And who am I to demand a pass to get to the riders. And another thing: the Games have been safe so far and I hope it stays that way. But I wouldn't really feel safe in Paris right now," he concluded.
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