Lefevere’s departure sparks reactions: "Not in the best shape last night to answer messages"

“It’s a life-changing moment,” Lefevere shared Tuesday in the press release issued by his team. The 69-year-old Belgian, who will remain involved as an honorary member of the Board of Directors, elaborated further: “But I felt that it was the right moment for this change. When I started to work with Jurgen one year ago, it was with a view to smoothing out the transition for when I would eventually leave. With Jurgen taking over as CEO and with the board’s backing, I know this team has a bright future.”

Team owner Zdenek Bakala expressed his gratitude to Lefevere and shared his optimism for the future under Foré. “However, we know that at some point all things change and we feel that this is the right time to make these structural changes to our team’s management, which have been made with the agreement of all parties,” said the Czech businessman, reaffirming his commitment to the team. “With this transition I demonstrate my commitment to the long-term future of the team and ensuring a bright future for Soudal Quick-Step.”

Broadcasting from the Spanish coast, Lefevere and Foré appeared together. Side by side. The 69-year-old veteran and the 54-year-old heir to the throne — a stark contrast in some ways, but not entirely. “Patrick and I are two very different people and lead the organization in our own ways, both on the sporting and commercial sides,” Foré explained. “Fortunately, I’ve been here for a year already, and the team and I have had time to adjust to one another. It’s hard to pinpoint the differences or similarities — people are who they are. I’m mainly a matter of building on what Patrick has created, which is solid and robust. We can keep moving forward from there.”

The inevitable question of 'why now' came quickly for Lefevere. “On January 6, I will turn 70, and I’ve already written quite a story, so I felt it was a good time to step down. I’ve done enough, for myself and for the team. After 55 years in cycling, that’s okay. The team has grown very large, perhaps too large for me to handle alone,” said the Belgian, who is particularly pleased that his 'baby' will continue. “This isn’t a forced departure. We made the decision a few weeks ago during a conversation with Mr. Bakala in Switzerland. We decided to keep the team going, and for me, it was good to leave at a positive moment.”

What does this look like concretely? “Bakala has assured me that he will continue investing in the team. I won’t mention numbers, but it’s more than people think. And he’s already invested more than people realize,” Lefevere told the press. Foré added, “It’s quick — barely a year after I joined — but we’ve worked well together, and I’m confident he’ll still be there for me and the team. We’re ready for the challenge. We’re The Wolfpack, but we also need to stay professional. We won’t take giant steps but focus on every millimeter or centimeter of improvement we can make.”

For the press, the announcement came as a surprise, as it did for much of the team. Lefevere only shared the news with them Tuesday evening. “When I gave a short speech, I did feel emotional seeing everyone in front of me. Afterward, we had some drinks, and it was harder to give everyone a hug than to deliver a brief press conference,” said the usually rational team boss, showing a rare glimpse of emotion.

Unsurprisingly, his phone quickly filled with messages. “I’m known for answering all my messages, but after last night’s party, I wasn’t in the best shape to reply to everyone. Now I’m heading home, so I’ll have time to respond to everyone,” Lefevere joked, adding that he’s glad to leave some aspects of the job behind. “I won’t miss the flying — I hated that. But I’ve always taken my responsibilities, even when it came to finding sponsors. Questions like, ‘What’s the plan for 2028?’ when we’re barely in 2025 — they're like a toothache, you don't miss those.”

While Lefevere leaves Soudal Quick-Step in a strong position, over the years, he’s also contributed significantly to the growth of cycling in general. “I was one of the founders of Velon and immediately supported ONE Cycling, but there are too many people at the table. By the time everyone’s had their say, a lot of time has passed. For the sport’s future, it would be better to speed things up,” he noted.

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After 55 years in the sport, Lefevere will wake up on January 1, 2025, as a retiree. “I won’t be everywhere like I used to be, but if I want to go somewhere, I will. We’ll see — I’m a free man now,” he said with a laugh, before clarifying how he's doing. Lefevere suffers from diabetes. “I’m not getting any younger. Everyone says I need to take better care of myself, but this is just my lifestyle,” said the self-proclaimed bon vivant with a chuckle. “I’ll turn 70 on January 6, and I’ve already had to bury many people who were braver than I am. I might slow down a bit, but staying active during retirement is a good thing. I won’t lie — I’m not the same person I was 20 years ago.”

And Foré? Should we expect him to be a Lefevere 2.0? Anyone who saw the two side by side at the press conference would immediately see that’s not the case. “Those are big shoes to fill. Patrick is a personality, and it will always be his team. But I’ll do everything I can to take over well — in my own way. I’d rather be the best version of myself than a poor copy of someone else.”