Patrick Lefevere: Jim Ratcliffe can’t buy the whole world

Patrick Lefevere has issued another hands off warning to Ineos Grenadiers amid continued speculation that the British team are attempting to sign Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian rider has a contract with Lefevere’s Soudal QuickStep team until the end of 2026, and with Lefevere on the market for two potential world-class climbers to back up his world champion the hope within the Soudal camp is that they can retain the services of their talismanic leader.

In an exclusive interview with GCN, Lefevere also dismissed rumours and reports of a potential sale of his team, declaring that he would see ‘Project Remco’ through until at least 2026.

Reports in the European press during the first week of the Tour de France suggested that Lefevere was in talks with potential suitors over the ownership of the team. According to the veteran team boss, the rumours started after he met with one businessman who declared an interest in buying a cycling team. However, talks broke down almost immediately.

“People can believe what they want. A few months ago there was a young guy who didn't live far from our headquarters. He said he’d got rich from bitcoins and he said that he wanted to buy the team,” Lefevere said.

“He was a good guy but I told him to start with buying my women’s team but then he said he’d already bought a team where his girlfriend rides. We won’t sell to just anyone, and it has to be someone with money but to be clear we’re not for sale. If someone does want to come, and it’s real then we can speak because we always want more capital but we can run a team until 2026 and we have budgeted for that.

“Of course, we can talk and try to make the team stronger but I’m not chasing money, I’m chasing to have a competitive team. I’ll continue until someone taps me on the shoulder and tells me it’s time to go. I gave myself a project, it’s ‘Project Remco’ and that’s 2026 at a minimum.”

Central to Lefevere’s plans is Evenepoel’s stature within the team. Sponsors have bought into the young Belgian’s success as a Grand Tour winner and road world champion. With Julian Alaphilippe currently below his very best form, it’s been Evenepoel who has carried the team’s greatest threat in both one-day and stage races.

But despite being locked into a long-term contract the speculation over a transfer to Ineos Grenadiers has persisted for almost a year. It was reported in 2022 that the Ineos Grenadiers management met with Evenepeol’s parents, who act as his agents. The British have been admirers of Evenepoel since his junior days and even invited him to their base in the south of France before he signed a deal to turn pro with Lefevere’s team.

“At the Tour there are a thousand journalists and each wants to have their shot. If I believe what radio peloton says then I think that five or six teams are interested in Remco but they all know that he has a contract until the end of 2026 and with an option for 2027. We think that he should stay,” Lefevere told GCN.

There had been rumours of a rift between Lefevere and Evenepoel’s parents but the team boss dismissed them. Lefevere also stated that if Ineos’ interest is real then they should approach him directly rather than hold talks with the rider and his family.

“I have been speaking with his father, and he says it’s not true when I've asked him,” Lefevere said in relation to the rumours of Ineos approaching Evenepoel’s family.

“I know that Jim Ratcliffe has a lot of money but he cannot buy the whole world. If they are fair then they should call me first, and then the others. The last time I had a chat with Dave Brailsford was after the Worlds and that’s the last time I've heard from them.”

Away from the speculation it was confirmed on Monday that Evenepoel will aim to defend his Vuelta a España crown from 2022. The Belgian was forced out of the Giro d’Italia earlier this year due to a case of COVID-19 and although a Vuelta return was initially off the table his recovery from the virus has gone smoothly. Lefevere is looking forward to the Grand Tour and the prospect of Evenepoel and sprinter Tim Merlier working together.

“Of course when he was knocked out of the Giro he was very disappointed and then after the medical examinations to check his heart, I spoke to him. After that he decided to go to San Pelligrino at altitude and he decided to do it. There will be good harmony at the Vuelta with him and Tim Merlier,” the team boss said.

Transfer talk

With cycling’s transfer window set to open on August 1 Lefevere is busy putting together a roster for 2023. Several riders including Fabio Jakobsen, and Rémi Cavanga are set to leave but Lefevere confirmed that American U23 sensation Luke Lamperti had signed a two-year deal with the team starting in 2024.

“I don’t think that I’ll go for another sprinter because we have Remco. You see all the big teams Ineos, Bora, and Jumbo, and they all go to the Tour de France without a sprinter. I don’t think we can go to the Tour de France with a sprinter if we bring Remco there, so after Merlier we won’t recruit another sprinter. We took the young kid Lamperti, and he’s already won ten races. He joins next season,” Lefevere said.

In a bid to beef up the support around Evenepoel in Grand Tours, the team will look to sign more climbers.

“Right now I’m talking to two good climbers who have palmarès in big tours. We were presented with Michael Storer by his agent and then a few weeks ago I asked the agent what the situation was and he had already signed. I think he will stay,” Lefevere said when asked about the Australian climber who is out of contract at Groupama-FDJ.

Another rider who has been linked to the team is UAE Team Emirates’ George Bennett but negotiations have not taken place at this time. The team looks likely to give James Knox a contract extension.

“I’ve not looked close enough at George. He’s not raced a lot this year but maybe he’ll be at the Vuelta. For James, we’re close to an agreement. I have to call his agent back, probably today. He wants to stay and we want to keep him.”

Laurens de Plus, currently on the books at Ineos Grenadiers, and out of contract, had also been linked to Lefevere’s team but that move has never gained any real traction.

“De Plus told my riders he was interested but he’s staying. I think he felt it would be unfair if he left them after they supported him,” Lefevere added.