Patrick Lefevere to step down as CEO of Soudal Quick-Step at the end of the month

Big news from Soudal Quick-Step on Tuesday evening: Patrick Lefevere will step down as CEO of the Belgian team on December 31, 2024, as announced in a press release. Jurgen Foré, who has served as COO of the team since last year, will take over Lefevere’s responsibilities and assume day-to-day management of the team.

Lefevere is not leaving Soudal Quick-Step altogether, as he will remain involved as an honorary board member. Foré will form the management team alongside majority shareholder Zdenek Bakala and Auret Van Zyl, the team’s long-time legal advisor.

“It’s a life-changing moment,” Lefevere stated. “To leave a role that I have committed so much of my life to. Cycling is a sport that I am still deeply passionate about, and it has been a great honor to head up this beautiful team and make so many special memories."

Lefevere felt it was time for a change

"But I felt that it was the right moment for this change," Lefevere continues. "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. I have seen how his relationships with our sponsors and partners, as well as the team’s internal stakeholders has grown over the last 12 months, and I know that with Jurgen taking over as CEO and with the board’s backing, that this team has a bright future."

"There are countless people that I need to thank, far too many to mention individually, but there are of course my family, the team’s talented riders, our dedicated staff, our loyal sponsors, all of which is backed by the generosity and support of our team owner Mr. Zdenek Bakala," Lefevere said.

Foré expressed pride in his appointment but was especially grateful to his predecessor. "Patrick Lefevere has been a figurehead in professional cycling, whom we all have great respect and admiration for. He has been able to build a firm base and stability that has seen this team grow for over two decades. I would like to personally thank him for the support that he has given me over the past 12 months since I joined the team. I understand and feel how special this organization is, and I will do everything in my power to take care of it."

"I will now look to lead this team, working towards securing its long-term future," Foré said. "I have been involved in cycling in several roles and as part of the team’s management and I am confident that by combining this with my experience in business, it will allow me to build a structure that can take Soudal Quick-Step from strength to strength."

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Bakala: "The right time to make these structural changes"

Team owner Zdenek Bakala also commented on the transition. "I would like to start by thanking Patrick for his dedication and passion in making Soudal Quick-Step the team it is today. Patrick has often spoken of the hard work of his staff and the riders, but that is fostered by the figure head at the top and we should not underestimate the way Patrick has built a culture that allows those riders and staff to thrive."

"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," Bakala said. "With this transition I demonstrate my commitment to the long-term future of the team and ensuring a bright future for Soudal Quick-Step.”

Lefevere founded Soudal Quick-Step, in recent years often referred to as 'The Wolfpack', back in 2003. Under his leadership, the team has achieved nearly 900 victories, including 22 monuments, one grand tour, 124 grand tour stages, three Olympic gold medals, 19 World Championship gold medals, and four European Championships. Currently, Remco Evenepoel is the team’s star rider, although the reigning Olympic champion is currently sidelined due to injuries from a crash.

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