Lefevere hails Soudal Quick-Step’s return to its Wolfpack roots

“It’s clear that after Remco’s departure, the team is returning to its roots,” Lefevere wrote in his column for Het Nieuwsblad. “Niki has a distinct Wolfpack profile. Sep Vanmarcke, perhaps too, but I know him less well. Tim Declercq certainly has it. He’s not returning as a team leader, but as a trainer, a role he already had informally as a rider in our team.”

The Belgian explained why he believes such riders fit well in staff positions. “I believe in the football wisdom that bad players make good coaches. And vice versa. In cycling it’s the same: the best sports directors are often former riders who had modest careers. They had to consciously work on becoming good riders. They learned to race smartly and to think about tactics. It wasn’t about class, but about hard work and insight. That’s what you need in the support car.”

Lefevere paid special attention to Terpstra’s appointment. “I can say that I was the one who initiated Niki's return. When he had just stopped racing, I was still CEO, and we had already talked about him returning to the team. It didn't work out then, there was no room and no budget. But I strongly believe in Niki's qualities.”

“He's an equipment freak, which is already a big plus. And he also has a kind of flair that only Dutch people have. Shouting over the radio during the race that we're all a bunch of assholes, a literal quote, and then immediately apologizing afterwards in the shower: Yeah, I got a little carried away there. When Niki goes over it with the sponge, it's really gone.”

“I am genuinely happy that he is coming back on board after so many years. We have already had a chat, and I told him that he should not change anything. In racing, a team manager has to speak his mind, and it's okay to clash once in a while. Niki also has the right profile for me.”

The shift in staff appointments mirrors the changes in the riders roster, a course of action that carries Lefevere’s blessing. “The riders Jurgen Foré is attracting are also classic types: Jasper Stuyven and Dylan van Baarle are no longer the youngest and won't win eight races a year, but what does that matter if there's a big fish among them? You can be for or against it, but at least the team's choice is clear. That has never made anyone worse off.”