Lefevere on Evenepoel's future: I think that a lot depends on the Tour de France 🇫🇷
Former team boss talks about the Soudal Quick-Step rider's form, contract situation and his relationship with Jurgen Foré
Regardless of Remco Evenepoel’s final position in this year’s Tour de France, one consistent narrative that will follow him through all 21 stages is his long-term future.
With 18 months remaining on his current contract at Soudal Quick-Step and with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Ineos Grenadiers, and now even Lidl-Trek linked to the Belgian star, the coming weeks could be crucial in determining the rider’s destiny.
According to his former boss, Patrick Lefevere, the rider has all the talent and form to replicate his third-place finish from 12 months ago, while discussions about his future could well depend on how Evenepoel performs in the Tour.
“I hope that he can stay on his bike because the opening stages will be very nervous and tricky,” Lefevere told us during a call on Tuesday afternoon.
“Everyone wants to win in Lille on stage 1 because they know that if they win, then they’ll have the yellow jersey. We’ll see GC riders fighting not to lose time and sprinters’ teams trying to do lead-outs. I’m afraid that it will be very chaotic. We hope to win the first stage with Tim Merlier and take yellow, and then if Remco can win the first TT, he can also take over the jersey,” the Belgian said when discussing his former rider’s Tour chances.
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Evenepoel arrives at the Tour with question marks over his form and fitness. He missed most of the spring after being doored by a driver in the winter, and while there have been flashes of his class, the recent Critérium du Dauphiné demonstrated that the 25-year-old isn’t any closer to taking on the two riders who finished ahead of him at the Tour last year, Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard.