Lefevere on Evenepoel's Tour chances - 'You can't buy the Tour'

When Evenepoel joined Soudal Quick-Step, Patrick Lefevere was still in charge and it was easy to see him as Lefevere’s own project. He had signed the Belgian “aero bullet” at just 17, and watched him grow into a rider who would stack up standout results: Olympic golds, multiple world titles, and a Vuelta a España overall, among plenty else besides.

Asked bySporza whether or not Lefevere would still be a 'fan' of Evenepoel, the 71-year-old figure stated, "I'll remain a supporter, you know. I discovered him when I was 17. I'm not someone who just throws everything you've experienced for seven years in the trash. In my heart, I'll remain a fan."

Evenepoel and his new team, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, outlined at their media day and prior interviews just how big a goal the Tour de France is for the German team. 

But even if their hard work pays off over three weeks, the biggest task still waits at the end of it: dealing with the goliath that is Tadej Pogačar. He still looks to be improving, and he is not the only one. Jonas Vingegaard will be there too.

Whether the Belgian superstar could win the Tour, Lefevere said, "He has the potential, but I think Pogačar is still out of his league at the moment."

Evenepoel's best GC result at the Tour de France in his career so far was a third place finish at the 2024 Tour de France, where he finished behind Vingegaard and Pogačar, 9:18 minutes down on the Slovenian. His most recent attempt at the Tour saw the Belgian abandoning on stage 14, in what would be his final Grand Tour in Quick-Step colours.

After Evenepoel's transfer to Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, Lefevere was frank in his assessment of the situation regarding the German team's resources compared to those of Soudal Quick-Step. "They have more money, and they can do what they want, but you can't buy the Tour. He'll have to do it with his legs and his head," said Lefevere. 

Evenepoel himself has already hinted at what will matter most in his new setting: cohesion. Over the festive period he spoke about the need for teamwork alongside 2025 Tour podium finisher Florian Lipowitz, a dynamic that could look very different at Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe than it did at Quick-Step. “We need to complement each other and not work against each other for the objective of this team: to win the Tour one day,” said Evenepoel.