"You’re destroying the Wolfpack" - Lefevere reveals Remco Evenepoel was under fire by teammate during Visma merger rumours
CyclingSaturday, 19 September 2026 at 10:45
Remco Evenepoel departed Soudal - Quick-Step at the end of 2025, but beforehand, many teams attempted to sign him. The Belgian team was even under rumours of merging with Team Visma | Lease a Bike at the end of 2023, which led one rider to snap at Remco Evenepoel.
In 2023, Visma's golden year with three different winners for all three different Grand Tours, the talks evolved due to the departure of Jumbo as a sponsor which was to happen soon.
The team looked to remain at the top of the sport, and a merger with Soudal - Quick-Step was considered and even attempted. Ultimately, it did not lead to success.
A lot of this effort was due to the presence of Remco Evenepoel, whom the Dutch team was keen on signing. Over the years it is known that Visma and INEOS were interesting in acquiring the now-Olympic champion - whose contract was eventually bought out at the end of 2025 by Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe.
Remco Evenepoel has been on a winning streak since joining Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
Mauri Vansevenant's heated argument with Remco Evenepoel
And Evenepoel's 'role' in this matter saw one of his teammates lash out at him. "It’s an open secret that two years ago, before the Tour of Lombardy—amidst all the merger talk surrounding Quick-Step and Visma—Mauri lashed out at Remco on the bus," former team CEO Patrick Lefevere wrote in his Het Nieuwsblad column. "You’re destroying the Wolfpack," he had said.
Now retired, but still part of the team's entourage, Lefevere revealed the tensions that were taking place within the team at the time, even with its leader coming under fire. Whilst it is a situation that seemed to be resolved after, 'Patje' points at Vansevenant's father as the reason for this dispute.
"Especially in the early days, he was too much under the influence of his father, Wim (also a former pro, ed.), and the latter's rather conservative view of racing. It speaks in Wim's favor that he has come to realize he might have projected his own career and experiences too heavily onto his son's. I always thought his father was the one who had brought him to that point".
Lefevere disappointed with Vansevenant's performances
Lefevere wasn't keen on criticizing Mauri Vansevenant, who turned pro with the Belgian team in 2020, for his words back then. But as he's done in the past with some of his previous riders, he launched a harsh comment on the 27-year old:
"I was the one who signed him, and let's be honest: it didn't turn out to be a success. I don't want to be too hard on Mauri, because he's certainly a good guy. Perhaps his 'engine' is just a bit smaller than we had estimated."
Whilst this has not been made official or public, Lefevere confirmed an open rumour: Mauri Vansevenant has signed with Lotto-Intermarché for 2027. "I wish Mauri and Wim a great second chapter with the Lotto team," he concluded.
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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Rafionain-Glas19-09-2026 - If she was smart she’d have other more fulfilling ways of making money. Are drug dealers smart too because they know how to use a short cut that ignores societal needs?Mistermaumau19-09-2026
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