Team boss Lefevere reveals 2025 plans Evenepoel: "Anyone who knows Remco knows he gets motivation from that"

It was a historic double this year for Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian from UAE Team Emirates was the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year. According to Patrick Lefevere, team boss at Soudal Quick-Step, his leader, Remco Evenepoel, wanted to attempt something similar. Speaking to La Dernière Heure, the team boss explains his plans for the future of his golden boy.

"His trainer (Koen Pelgrim, ed.) has changed those plans," Lefevere began about the plan to try the Giro-Tour double with Evenepoel as early as this year. "For 2025, it is realistic, though. Pogacar has shown that it is possible to win both back-to-back. Those who know Remco know that he gets motivation from that. Of course, that involves a completely different preparation. Then he has to peak for the first time in mid-April because his season will start later. Before the Giro, he might still be able to start Milan-Sanremo."

Still, the 69-year-old team boss is not only looking at Pogacar as a possible competitor for that legendary double. "Watch out for Juan Ayuso. There is less talk about that, but UAE Team Emirates is a real armada. They have already won as many this year as we did in our record year when we scored 75 wins." Lefevere refers to the Emirates team's year of success, which at the time of writing stands at precisely 75 wins.

As Lefevere says, an armada does exist on Pogacar's team. The Slovenian always has a solid group with teammates like Ayuso, Adam Yates, João Almeida, Pavel Sivakov, and Tim Wellens. For Evenepoel to compete with Pogacar, Soudal Quick-Step must also strengthen the team around the leader. "That's the goal, but it's not always and only Remco, Remco, and Remco. We count 275 race days. Of which maybe sixty are with Remco. So when he's not there, we also need other guys to win," Lefevere believes.

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"A departure is not an issue," Lefevere says of golden boy Evenepoel

So, with such statements about the future, the experienced team boss seems not to be counting on the departure of the double Olympic champion, even though rumors have circulated for some time. "That is indeed anything but the intention. A departure is not even on the cards. Certainly not, as long as I don't have a message on my desk from a team asking to talk to Remco," it sounds confident, while Lefevere also knows what other teams can offer Evenepoel. "Maybe we are not as strong financially, but Evenepoel feels good here. It's also about confidence. And look at his track record. In 2026, he will be 26. Maybe then he can go for the big money."

"Although it may be that at that point we will also have bigger financial resources," Lefevere looks ahead. "I just notice that big brands are knocking on our door. But I'm tired of this whole history surrounding a transfer of Evenepoel," he continues honestly. "Four years ago, it started with INEOS. Today, it's Red Bull. And will it be the UAE tomorrow, for sure? These rumors bother me because they don't contribute to anything. Remember last year's whole saga of a possible fusion with Visma? I think everyone has had enough of that by now," Lefevere concluded, slightly irritated.