"Seixas would have been the perfect replacement for Remco Evenepoel" - Patrick Lefevere reveals Quick-Step was on the verge of another generational signing
Cycling
Soudal - Quick-Step is now trailing behind teams such as UAE Team Emirates - XRG and a few others who surpass it in budget by a big margin, but until a few years ago that was not quite the case. The Belgian team for many years was able to sign many of the world's best at their prime; but currently require a lot of scouting and luck to obtain new leaders capable of winning at the top level. One who was close to signing for the Belgian team was Paul Seixas, Patrick Lefevere reveals.
Lefevere, former CEO of Soudal - Quick-Step for many years, saw many generations come and go. Whilst at times controversial, he was always seen as a successful team manager, being able to manage the business and the sporting side of the team quite successfully, whilst his direct relationships with the team leaders helped maintain riders on board even on multi-leadership scenarios. In recent years the signing and development of Remco Evenepoel is what the team relied on; whilst its role as a classics powerhouse began to fade.
It was a worthy investment, but ultimately at the end of the 2025 season, Evenepoel departed for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. However the team didn't abandon the climbing block it had developed, with Mikel Landa, Valentin Paret-Peintre and Ilan van Wilder all as very capable climbers. This is also because at any point, the team could potentially sign the next climbing superstar, and be prepared to maintain it. That's what could've happened with Paul Seixas, whom Lefevere admits was in contact with to make an offer a few years ago.
“The new French wonderkid could actually have ridden for Soudal Quick-Step,” Lefevere wrote in his weekly Het Nieuwsblad column, sharing details that confirm it was not only a matter of interest from the Belgian team, but an attempt to pun the pen to paper.
“Not that long ago he was sitting in my office in Wevelgem together with his mother. Our scout Johan Molly had pointed him out to us. Sometimes he gets it wrong, but most of the time he is right.” In this case he was right, but Lefevere couldn't make the bid. This was become Quick-Step wasn't the first team to jump the gun, and at the time, Seixas was already firmly connected with the Decathlon team who had secured him.
“One of the issues was the legal uncertainty around his contract situation at AG2R Citroën. As a junior he had signed something, but at that age the signature of one of the parents is also required. That signature was missing. There was a photo showing his parents were there, but on paper the contract was not complete.”
The complicated legal situation, obstacles, and interest from rival teams eventually saw Seixas decide otherwise, and instead choose Decathlon CMA CGM Team, where he in the meantime has turned pro. At 18 years of age he has joined Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel on the podium of the European Championships last year. Amongst other results, he has also won the Tour de l'Avenir as a first-year under-23 rider, and this Saturday was second to Pogacar in his Strade Bianche debut.
The new Evenepoel?
The potential in undeniable and the French team have a massive weapon in their arsenal. So much so that despite having almost two full years of contract left, there are rumours that UAE Team Emirates - XRG are already actively in contact with Seixas in order to make a bit in the future to sign him.
Quick-Step could've been the team with their hands on cycling's newest top prospect, a rider that Lefevere now believes could've been the new Remco Evenepoel within the Quick-Step group. “Eventually AG2R found a new co sponsor in Decathlon and they were able to shift two gears higher financially. That meant our chance was gone. It is a pity, because Seixas would have been the perfect replacement for Remco Evenepoel.”
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
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