Starting tomorrow, everyone's off to Spain. While we pack the last few things, rumors are coming from those who have been in Spain for a few days now. The Quick Step which will soon be transformed into Soudal has been in Calpe since last Monday. Alaphilippe and Evenepoel brought forward their trip by a day due to business commitments.The Belgian arrived at the Suitopia hotel together with Bramati, after the massive dose of reconnaissance of the Giro d'Italia routes. Alaphilippe instead arrived from Andorra, where in the meantime it snowed, anticipated by the words of Patrick Lefevere.
Carrot and stick
The big boss He knows how to push his boys. And even if he sometimes has brusque ways and direct arguments, knows exactly which keys to play. And so speaking of Alaphilippe, he used the stick of a generous salary on one hand and the carrot on the other, caressing his ambition.
«I want Julian back – Lefevere told the Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure – because he owes me something, a ransom. Julian has the salary of a champion, but he has to prove that he still is. I don't care if he's no longer a world champion. He hasn't won much in recent years, and I know he's been very unlucky. But after so many years, I've noticed that it's always the same people who are unlucky and it's always the same people who are luckyBut Julian is still motivated. And if all goes well, he will do well in the Flemish races, including the Tour of Flanders."
Remco's Cage
An assignment that makes you think of the space to be cleared for Evenepoel in the Ardennes ClassicsOn those slopes, Alaphilippe has the domestic record of three victories at the Flèche Wallonne, but in nine editions he has never won the LiègeA feat that Remco managed last year at his first attempt. But predictably, Lefevere held back on the younger rider. A cage was built around the FlemishBramati himself, light-hearted and sly, changes his attitude and methods when Evenepoel is involved.
“We don’t want to go too fast with Remco,” says Lefevere, “and neither does he. The goal is to one day go to the Tour as leader, But we've always said he'll do the Vuelta and the Giro first. We're sticking to that plan. You don't have to win the Tour to be a top-level cyclist; those days are long gone. Remco can win on any terrain and I'm sure that one day he will also be a leader in the Flemish Classics."
Lefevere's Law
The last step is a joking and ironic forkful towards the Ineos Grenadiers, who allegedly tried to take the young world champion away from him.
«People sometimes think I'm stupid – Lefevere notes – but with a five-year contract you are prepared for anything, for every scenario. I've committed Remco until 2026; we've considered every eventuality in the contract. Now I just have to pay itIf he had gone with Ineos, he would have been the richest rider in the peloton. But I'm glad he didn't."
