'I told him for so many years to do it, and he didn't' – Patrick Lefevere reacts to Remco Evenepoel's Tour of Flanders debut, having failed to convince him at Soudal-QuickStep

Patrick Lefevere, the former Soudal-QuickStep manager, has publicly commented on Remco Evenepoel's impending Tour of Flanders debut, stating he had "told him for so many years to do it, and he didn't." This comes as Evenepoel, now with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, is widely expected to line up at De Ronde, a move Lefevere described as "good for cycling." The new team, however, remains conspicuously tight-lipped regarding Evenepoel's exact race schedule, fueling speculation.

Lefevere's remarks highlight a long-standing point of contention during Evenepoel's tenure at Soudal-QuickStep, where the young Belgian's Grand Tour ambitions often overshadowed a potential Classics campaign. Evenepoel's move to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe was partly predicated on a more tailored, perhaps more diverse, racing calendar. This debut signifies a significant shift in his career trajectory, potentially positioning him as a formidable contender in the Monuments, a realm where his former team often thrived.

Lefevere's retrospective 'I told you so' carries the familiar sting of a manager watching a talent blossom elsewhere, proving that some advice only truly resonates once the rider has changed colours.