Patrick Lefevere had an argument with the Giro organization about Remco Evenepoel’s starting money: “I thought that was nonsense”

Patrick Lefevere will be sitting in front of the television with excitement on Saturday. The manager of Soudal Quick-Step is already hoping for a good day from Julian Alaphilippe or Mauri Vansevenant in stage one, but looks back in his weekly column The newspapaer look back on the past few months. Those were months of arguments with Giro organizer RCS, it now appears.

The malaise started last year when Remco Evenepoel was forced to drop out of the Giro d’Italia. “The Giro is natural for Remco unfinished business, after he had to give up last year due to Covid. As we know, the organization then – rightly – blamed us for not personally informing them that Remco could not continue. That was very emotional and very Italian. According to RCS CEO Mauro Vegni, the pink jersey had left as un ladro nella nottea thief in the night.”

“Until a few months ago, there was a financial dispute with RCS about this,” Lefevere now admits. “Because Remco did not finish the Giro, they did not want to pay the agreed starting fee. I thought that was nonsense because the word starting money says it all: money to start. I don’t want to be too cynical about that, but no one can claim that Remco did not play his role as a poster boy in the Giro, with promotional videos and interviews before and during.”

‘Starting money from Remco can provide a budget for an extra rider’
“He was simply sensational in the opening time trial. I thought it was a shame to skimp on the price with a forced forfeit. It is not that Remco simply left the course. Starting fees are not huge sums, but I won’t reveal a secret when I say that in a cycling team, every little bit helps. To give an order of magnitude: Remco’s starting money in the Giro – in practice a sum for a package of RCS races – can ensure that we just have a budget for an extra rider.”

Ultimately, the dispute was resolved, says Lefevere. “In the winter, when the Giro-Tour was double on the table, RCS came up with a kind of amicable settlement: if Remco rode the Giro again, they would still match the amount owed, on top of the starting fee for 2024. Also in that Optically, doubles fit into the team’s agenda.”