Ineos told to 'stop flirting' with Remco Evenepoel as Patrick Lefevere denounces 'media show'
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Updated 31/05/2023 at 07:24 GMT
Remco Evenepoel may have over three years left on his Soudal Quick-Step contract but that has done little to stop the incessant rumours linking him with a move to Ineos Grenadiers. It has prompted Soudal Quick-Step chief Patrick Lefevere to call out Ineos for “flirting” with the Belgian, whose bid to win a maiden Giro d’Italia unravelled when he tested positive for Covid earlier this month.
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Soudal Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere has told Ineos Grenadiers to “stop flirting” with his star rider Remco Evenepoel.
Ineos have been repeatedly linked with a move for the 23-year-old, who is under contract until 2026.
The rumours continued to swirl at the Giro d’Italia, where the Belgian pulled out from the race lead after testing positive for Covid.
Ineos rider Geraint Thomas stepped into the leader's pink jersey and led heading into the final competitive stage, an uphill individual time trial, but was unable to match Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) as the pink jersey dramatically changed hands.
With Thomas in his twilight years at 37, Egan Bernal on the comeback trail from his horror crash and Tom Pidcock yet to prove his credentials over three weeks, Ineos are reportedly on the hunt for a Grand Tour superstar.
Although Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jumbo-Visma duo Jonas Vingegaard and Roglic have greater GC pedigree, Evenepoel is thought to be the easiest option to land given Ineos’ spending power compared to Soudal Quick-Step.
However Lefevere, as he has on plenty of occasions already, was quick to shoot down those rumours.
Speaking to cycling journalist Simeon Kichukov at the Giro, he said: “He’s signed until 2026. We have the sponsors we need.
“OK, we are not Ineos, we are not sheikhs… but we have the same power. And Ineos should stop flirting with him.
“It’s clear for me, it’s a media show.”
Evenepoel tested positive for Covid just hours after taking the leader’s maglia rosa on Stage 9’s individual time trial.
Although he won the stage, it was not the commanding performance many expected with Lefevere revealing that Evenepoel was also surprised with his sub-par showing.
“Before the TT he was on the bus saying ‘hmmm, my nose is closing, is a doctor around?’,” said Lefevere.
“And then he did the TT and everyone saw his face, he looked like he was 40. Then he was in the car with the soigneurs and said ‘I hope I don’t get sick because that’s not normal, I can normally push 20 watts more. But it didn’t happen, I don’t know what happened.’
“That evening he was positive.”
Evenepoel, who has not hidden his desire to win all three Grand Tours in his career, was expected to make his Tour de France debut in 2024, although he may be tempted for another crack at the Giro following his enforced exit.
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