"Do you know my friend Ralph Denk?"; Lefevere disapproves of Evenepoel's flirtation with Red Bull's approach

The connection between Remco Evenepoel and Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is far from new. The German team has shown interest in the Belgian rider for years, and that interest has only grown since Red Bull became a primary sponsor. The fact that both Soudal Quick-Step and BORA-hansgrohe ride Specialized bikes—which is determined not to lose its star rider, Evenepoel—makes the situation somewhat understandable.

In a roundtable discussion published by Het Nieuwsblad, Tom Boonen, former rider under Lefevere, directly asked his former team manager what was really going on between Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe and Evenepoel. True to form, Patrick Lefevere, CEO of Soudal Quick-Step, didn’t mince words.

“Do you know my friend Ralph Denk?” Lefevere began. “He’s done the same thing twice: he offers a contract with high bonuses, which is just not done for riders still under contract,” said Lefevere. “Four years ago, he tried it once, and now he’s doing it again. Last week, I heard he also approached Tom Pidcock. Denk, I don’t like him,” Lefevere concluded.

To be clear: Evenepoel will "simply" ride with Soudal Quick-Step next year. Like in 2024, his focus will be on the Tour de France. “He can no longer skip France—not for himself, and certainly not from a sponsorship perspective. A Tour with or without Remco makes a huge difference to the media. In terms of publicity, the Tour dominates everything.”

Aside from this, nothing else is set in stone, Lefevere acknowledges. “I won’t comment on a potential combination with the Giro. Not too long ago, I mentioned that Remco should ride both Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders, but he immediately said he wasn’t going to do that. I don’t interfere with his program. It’s already been discussed briefly during the team days in Turnhout. In December, they will finalize it.”