“That is not a simple quest, because I cannot miss" - Patrick Lefevere has found his Soudal - Quick-Step successor
Cycling
One of the most well-known, well-respected and longest serving team bosses in cycling, Patrick Lefevere has been involved at the highest level of the sport for decades. As he nears his 70th birthday though, he's looking to wind down.
“We do not want Patrick to stop abruptly, but we do ask that there is a plan for a successor," CEO of Quick-Step, Ruben Desmet, has revealed to Het Nieuwsblad. "Someone who can follow along and gradually takes on more responsibility. It cannot suddenly go from zero to one hundred."
Given the intense, hands on nature of Lefevere's involvement in all things Soudal - Quick-Step however, this is not an easy task. As the often outspoken Belgian admits himself in conversation with the same Flemish news outlet.
“That is not a simple quest, because I cannot miss. As a joke I always say 'with thirty riders per season I can be wrong by one transfer' . Not in the role of successor," he quips. "But: we have found someone who will start in a role as COO. It is not a right-hand man, but a COO.” it is not revealed though, who that right-hand man, so time will tell.
As part of our #PartofthePack initiative, we are learning how hard it can be for someone to speak up when struggling.
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) November 17, 2023
Often this is because they do not think others will understand their unique experiences. pic.twitter.com/ga6W0uHdGx
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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