Swift-Step’s Lefevere Battlesโค Illness Amid Reconciliation with Evenepoel Family
Patrick Lefevere, former CEO โof Soudal Quick-Step, revealed heโฃ is contending with bothโข lumbago and sinusitis as he publicly mendedโฃ fences with Remco Evenepoel’s father, Patrick Evenepoel Sr. The health update came during โa joint interview with Het Nieuwsblad, intended to demonstrate a resolution to past disagreements.
The meeting signifies a public attempt to downplay years of reported tension between Lefevereโข and the Evenepoel family, particularly surrounding Remco’s time with the team. While both men characterize their past differences asโค minor disagreements, the reconciliation holds importance for the โcycling world, given the high โprofile of all parties involved โand the recent transfer of Evenepoel toโฃ Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. Lefevere emphasized the seven-year relationship Remco had with Quick-Step, acknowledging a singleโค point ofโค contention,โ while Evenepoel Sr. โdescribedโฃ the situation as a “difference โofโค opinion.”
Lefevere visibly โexperienced pain upon โฃarriving at the โฃinterview, attributing it toโฃ the lumbago.โฃ “Its not good, but I definitely didn’t want to cancel,” he stated, โhighlighting his commitment toโ the meeting. He also disclosed suffering from sinusitis.
Evenepoel Sr. offered a perspective gained from his current role managing the R.EV Cyclingโ Team juniorโข squad. “I understand better what your position as manager entails, Patrick,” he said.โ “I โฃexperience that at youth level. What should that be in the โคWorld Tour? I can only โคsay that there โisโข still great respect for patrick on our part.”