Patrick Lefevere makes amends. This is what he wrote in any case in a press release published on Saturday evening on the website of his Soudal-Quick Step team, regarding two statements about women which had earned him a sanction from the International Cycling Union: “I recognize that sentences could have been perceived as hurtful and denigrating. It was never my intention to hurt anyone and I therefore apologize,” he assured.
These public apologies allow him to avoid the fine of 20,000 Swiss francs (20,800 euros) imposed by the UCI Ethics Commission after his two particularly virulent outings, one on July 3, 2021 in the Flemish daily Het Nieuwsblad and the other on March 8, 2023 on Belgian television VRT. The sulphurous Belgian boss had suggested that women were exposed to sexual violence when they drank a lot of alcohol.
Alaphilippe and Rousse not spared
“The way our teams work must also prove that I never intended to offend or harm anyone: today we employ 74 riders and 106 full-time employees, men and women, in a diverse and inclusive work environment, without distinction,” he said in the press release.
Patrick Lefevere also stood out in a sad way at the beginning of February this year by scratching Julian Alaphilippe and his partner, Marion Rousse. Annoyed by the lack of results from his French rider, he declared: “Julian is a good guy, but after signing his mega contract, we didn’t see him anymore. As you get older, you need to take care of yourself more. You have to train harder. I think there were too many parties and too much alcohol at his house. Julian is under the control of Marion Rousse. »