Remco Evenepoel and Ineos Grenadiers is 'a closed chapter' says Lefevere

Soudal Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere has declared the long-running links between Remco Evenepoel and Ineos Grenadiers a "closed chapter", after recent discussions with his star rider and his father.

Evenepoel was first linked with a shock move to the British team last year, despite having recently signed a contract extension with Lefevere’s Belgian team through 2026.

Speculation persisted this year and intensified in the summer as Evenepoel’s father, who’s also his agent, suggested his son may not stay with Quick-Step next year. There were even rumours over a possible merger between the two teams.

Lefevere, who recently told GCN that Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe "cannot buy the whole world", claimed a line had now been drawn under the matter in his weekend column of Het Nieuwsblad.

“To the regret of those who would like it otherwise, I had a good conversation last week in the Vuelta, with Remco and with his father. The content remains between us, but a lot has been cleared up,” Lefevere wrote.

“We look ahead again and leave all the commotion and especially miscommunication behind us. Ineos is a closed chapter that never actually was one."

Evenepoel himself had publicly sought to play down the links, and even told his teammates in a speech ahead of the Vuelta that the ‘Ineos bullshit has to stop’. However, Lefevere believes the whole affair has taken a psychological toll, and may have contributed to his Vuelta title defence crumbling in the Pyrenees last weekend.

"Remco is a strong, tough guy, but of course the non-sporting stories also played their part. The storm of recent months has been one in a teacup, but the media has blown it up to unprecedented proportions.

“Remco says otherwise, but somewhere that must have cost energy. In any case, the timing was highly unfortunate.”

Despite dropping out of general classification contention, Evenepoel has bounced back to win a further two stage at the Vuelta, taking his total to three, as well as securing the king of the mountains jersey.