"We don't really know what was wrong with Remco" - Quick-Step teammates learnt about Evenepoel's transfer only 1 hour in advance

Remco Evenepoel's departure from Soudal - Quick-Step has rocked the team to it's core but as it's been possible to see by the signings of Jasper Stuyven and Dylan van Baarle, they were also fully prepared for it. However most of the riders did not know of the transfer's seriousness until... One hour before it was announced.

Evenepoel was initially planned to be at his fan meetup today in Schepdaal, Belgium, but was absent as he travelled to Livigno for an altitude training camp where he is preparing for the World Championships.

In words to VTM Nieuws his parents have explained the situation: "He got the green light two days ago to leave for an altitude training camp in Livigno. This way, he can already prepare for his new goals. It's definitely a shame that Remco isn't here. Medically, he wasn't ready to ride among everyone. And it's also good for him to have a complete reset. People will understand,"

What we learn about now is that within the team there was a general lack of information that the leader was indeed leaving. Yves Lampaert told Het Nieuwsblad: "We had a meeting an hour before the press release was released. Understand is an overstatement, because we don't really know what was wrong with Remco. It all happened a bit above our heads. But hey, he made the choice. As a team, we owe a lot to Remco, and vice versa, so I hope we can part as friends."

Lampaert is part of the teams classics block which can now be revived, and he believes that perhaps this lack of closeness with his teammate is what had him more surprised about the sudden transfer that was unveiled to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe.

"Remco himself sent a message in our general WhatsApp group saying he's leaving and thanking everyone," the Belgian shared. "He hasn't addressed the rest of the group yet, but it's probably all a bit much for him too at the moment".

"For the management, yes. They can move on now, and it's also clear to the sponsors now. We, the riders, will certainly miss him. He delivered a lot of trophies and therefore took the pressure off the rest. On the other hand, and I'll say it in Tom Boonen's words: if you cut down a large tree, the small trees underneath grow much faster."