Patrick Lefevere apologises for derogatory comments about women

Soudal Quick-Step general manager Patrick Lefevere has apologised for derogatory comments he made about women in 2021 and 2023, after the UCI Ethics Commission ordered that he must either apologise or pay a fine of 20,000 CHF for contravening the governing body’s ethical code.

After the public backlash around comments Lefevere had made about Julian Alaphilippe and his wife Marion Rousse in February, the UCI confirmed that they had found two other incidents – not including the Rousse comments – to be in violation of their code.

This week, Lefevere issued his apology in a statement quietly posted to the team’s website.

“I acknowledge that the sentences referred to can be perceived in a doubtful way. It was never my intention to harm anyone, and therefore I apologise,” the statement read.

“I apologise explicitly to the UCI, the UCI Ethics Commission and to all persons concerned or who have perceived these statements in a harmful way.”

Read more: Patrick Lefevere ordered to apologise or pay a fine over 'disparaging comments towards women'

Lefevere also gave insight into which particular incidents the UCI had picked up on, which had not previously been specified.

“On Thursday March 14th 2024, I was informed that the UCI Ethics Commission decided that 2 statements I made were in violation with the UCI ethical code. The commission refers to 2 statements I made: one in an article dd. July 3th, 2021 in ‘Het Nieuwsblad’, and one in a TV-interview dd. March 8th, 2023 in ‘De Afspraak’,” the statement read.

According to Wielerflits, the 8 March interview saw Lefevere touch on International Women’s Day, and made comments about women, their drinking habits and an allusion to sexual assault: “Women used to not drink, now they drink as much as we do. Not everyone can handle it well. So sometimes they are on thin ice. The next day they find out that, yes...'.”

It is less clear what content of the 2021 column the UCI took issue with, or if the statement includes an incorrect date. The column that was published on 3 July 2021 appears to focus on Mark Cavendish and his contract after he won stages of the Tour de France, without any clear derogatory comments, though it may have been updated or amended since publication.

Lefevere went on to offer more in the way of apology and reinforced his commitment to diversity in his organisation.

“The way our teams work, should also offer proof that it was never my intention to offend or harm anybody: today we employ 74 riders and 106 full time staff members, both men and women, in a diverse and inclusive work-environment with no distinction in terms of origin, gender or background. In this way, we will continue our journey,” he said.

Other incidents of Lefevere making controversial comments about women include comparing Irish sprinter Sam Bennett to a female victim of domestic abuse, and suggesting that he would not sponsor a women’s cycling team because he is “not a welfare centre”, though he does now sponsor the AG Insurance-Soudal team.

The UCI does not appear to have found any code violations in either of those comments at present.

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Soudal Quick-Step

• Nationality Belgium
• Founded 2003
• Team Principal Patrick Lefevere
• UCI Code SOQ
• Bike Sponsor Specialized