cycling
Will World Champion Evenepoel change teams? – Bora in conversation
Remco Evenepoel’s father has discussed a team change. photo
© Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone/dpa
Young star Remco Evenepoel is one of the most sought-after riders in cycling. His father is now talking about a team change. Could the world champion’s path lead to Germany?
One day before the World Championship road race in Glasgow, the father of the defending champion Remco Evenepoel caused a stir and considered a team change for his son. Apparently, the German racing team Bora-hansgrohe is also being discussed as a new employer for the young Belgian star.
“To win the Tour, all the pieces of the puzzle have to fit together. I’m not just talking about his teammates, but also about the equipment, the nutrition, the support staff, the training camps…” said Patrick Evenepoel, who was once a professional cyclist himself Newspaper “La Dernière Heure”.
The Soudal Quick Step team could not offer his son the guarantee of competing for victory in the Tour of France. “Maybe it will be in three years, but Remco wants to be among the best on the tour next year. (…) So I can’t guarantee that he will stay,” said Evenepoel Senior, although his son is still committed to the long term is.
“Contact with five big teams”
The British cycling team Ineos was recently traded as a possible new team for the 23-year-old. “Not only from Ineos. I was in contact with five big teams, three of which were very concrete,” added Patrick Evenepoel. According to the newspaper “Het Laatste Nieuws”, in addition to Bora-hansgrohe, the teams Lidl-Trek and Israel-Premier Tech should be involved. The only German WorldTour team has been trying for some time to set up a team for the grand tours. Evenepoel, who has already won the Vuelta, would fit perfectly into the team.
Team manager Patrick Lefevere from Evenepoel’s current racing team described his compatriot’s statements as “stupid” and was annoyed: “A week ago Remco said that the rumors were ‘bullshit’, the following week his father said the opposite. The Evenepoel family has to agree.”