“We were hopeful" - Disappointment the primary emotion for Patrick Lefevere and Soudal - Quick-Step after Tour de France stage 1

Not really featuring in the finale of the opening stage of the 2023 Tour de France was a big disappointment for Soudal - Quick-Step reveals their team boss, Patrick Lefevere.

“We were hopeful, but things are tough on the penultimate climb. They hurt us there. I was even more surprised that suddenly Campenaerts was in front. Then we saw what happened," said the always opinionated Soudal - Quick-Step boss in an interview with Sporza. "Wout could come along, Mathieu and Julian couldn't either. You see him struggling and fighting. The favourites have taken their responsibility. And then certainly UAE. Vingegaard did not want to ride because Wout came back from behind.”

Stage 2 again sees the Tour take on the Basque Country. In a similarly open stage that numerous riders and teams will have ambitions of victory. Soudal - Quick-Step are no different. “It is what it is. Tomorrow is not a copy. The course will be different, I suspect," Lefevere explains. "I think it's a little less difficult. The first printing is out. But we'll see.”

"Trying to cling on and take advantage of the situation of them looking at each other. Day three and four we will try it with Fabio Jakobsen," he continues. "Then we will see if there are intermediate stages in which Asgreen or Lampaert can join in a breakaway.”