“When I see what my words have caused. That was certainly not the intention” - Patrick Lefevere regrets speaking publicly about Julian Alaphilippe
CyclingFriday, 23 February 2024 at 10:07
It has been a disruptive week for Soudal - Quick-Step ahead of Opening Weekend, following comments in the press from the team’s general manager Patrick Lefevere about two-time World Champion Julian Alaphilippe and his partner Marion Rousse.
The Belgian team boss claimed in an interview with Humo that Alaphilippe had been drinking too much and that it could have been a result of his relationship with Rousse, as he said “too many parties, too much alcohol… Julian is seriously under the influence of Marion Rousse. Maybe too much”.
The former French rider and current race director of the Tour de France Femmes hit back at Lefevere on social media, telling him to “show a little more respect and… class”.
Now in an interview with VTM, Lefevere has said that he regrets his choice of words, as he said “do I have any regrets? Well, when I see what my words have caused. That was certainly not the intention”.
Lefevere hopes that all parties involved can now draw a line under the incident, as he stated that “I can move past all this and I hope Julian can too. Hopefully, he sees it that way too. Tomorrow is a new day and we won't talk about this anymore”.
This drama is the last thing that the team needed ahead of what is a very important Spring for Soudal - Quick-Step, following two underwhelming Classics campaigns over the past couple of years for the Belgian team.
Alaphilippe is set to play a key role in the Classics, but with his contract up at the end of the year, could this be the final nail in the coffin to convince the Frenchman to leave the team after over a decade with the Wolfpack?
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- Dekker, if you want the job of commentator, at least follow Tadej. Every time Ayuso wins, Tadej like him and post congratulations. It never happens reciprocally, never Ayuso posts congratulations to his team-mates. There are people who like to play alone (it's not marginalization).
maria2024202404-06-2025 - Maybe if you see the results Pog has under his belt is the reason he makes decisions within the team. You can always make comments after the race or incident has occured. Hindsight fantastic. I feel the comments are sour grapes by Dekker crap rider when a pro and now sitting in the chair complaining. Would not even mind if it was good journalism even .move on nothing to see here old news.paultryan200204-06-2025
- Juan must have searched a beehive and stuck his face in it so he wouldn't have to work for his team-mate in pink 😄😄😄maria2024202404-06-2025
- Honestly Del Toro didn't act like had the jersey at all. Was so many times on stages prior he got Gee or someone else to chase when it was 100% his teams responsibility.HoopoeChai04-06-2025
- Would others want him though? Hes not really getting the results needed plus we have all seen Pidcock performance since left INIOS and its basically the same situation.HoopoeChai04-06-2025
- Vingegaard normally only has one goal: TDF I doubt if he'll win Dauphiné.Ride197404-06-2025
- I think Del Toro was tired, and he was probably going to lose the Giro anyway on that long climb. But he had the privilege of choosing which one was going to win: Yates or Carapaz. If he followed Yates, Carapaz would get his free ride up, then attack at the end. If he followed Carapaz, Yates was going to run off like he did.Ride197404-06-2025
- We don't know the whole story in it but don't create some issues Thomas Dekker. I know you're also has a Rabobank-Michael Rasmussen biological passport issue as well in your 2007 days.
James2631804-06-2025 - The last post is spot on.....the UAE team had the resposibility of straightening their boy, seeing as he was letting a giro he had in the bag go up the road. Remember Yates was virtual leader by only about 17 seconds at the top of Finestre so that giro was still salvageable even if Yates linked with Wout, they still had Sestriere to cut into Yates's lead if they had not brought him back at that point. So yes...UAE DS blew it.Zone0Rider04-06-2025
- The Ayuso pile-on get's a bit ridiculous at times. Ayuso didn't lose the Giro for UAE. It was crappy strategy by UAE. And maybe Yates just being stronger. UAE had by far the strongest team even after losing Ayuso and Vine, but didn't use them effectively. For example why wasn't McNulty sent ahead as a satellite rider on Stage 20. If Van Aert made it over the hill so could have Mcnulty. Problem is McNulty was too high on the GC so he wouldn't have been let go. So why the heck was McNulty chasing a meaningless top 10 on GC instead of shedding some time so he could be rested and useful for his leader? Why was Adam Yates invisible for much of the race? Why did it sometimes feel like Majka was the only one all in on supporting Del Toro?mobk04-06-2025
The actions of men are the best intrepretations of their thoughts - James Joyce
Too late to regret that, sir
It's deja vu all over again - Yogi Berra
It's not like we don't not know what Lefevere is like is it..
He has done this multiple times, i doubt there is regret. its just a psycho tactic to lower the salary of the rider. AT the very least, He needs to leave the family of the rider out of his mouth.
True. All I see are crocodile tears on both his left and right eyes and ZERO remorse or shame.