Patrick Lefevere may have stepped back from his role at Soudal – Quick-Step at the end of 2024, but he remains an influential figure in the cycling world. In his latest ‘Het Nieuwsblad’ column, he shared some interesting insights that raised a few eyebrows.
Since retiring, Lefevere’s wife has been eager to keep him busy. “They’re installing a new bathroom at home,” he joked. “I spent a few days at the UAE Tour with our women’s team, right in the middle of the echelon stages. That was fun. I got to know Kim Le Court Pienaar, who finished third in the final classification.”
It wasn’t just Le Court Pienaar who Lefevere met during the event. He also had his first encounter with one of AG Insurance – Soudal’s newest recruits, four-time Slovenian national champion Urska Zigart. “I gave Urska Zigart some advice about echelon riding,” he recalled. “After the race, she came up to me and said, ‘Patrick, you saved my life!’ She’s Pogacar’s girlfriend, but you wouldn’t know it from how she carries herself. Although she does seem to feel that pressure while racing.”
Despite his reduced role, Lefevere’s involvement with Soudal – Quick-Step and AG Insurance Soudal hasn’t completely disappeared. “I’m still on the Board of Advisors, which meets four times a year. For the women’s team, I’m part of a full Board of Directors alongside Jolien D’hoore, Jurgen Foré, Rob Maes, and Jan Heyvaert from AG Insurance,” he explained.
Since announcing his departure, Lefevere has only been to the office in Wevelgem twice. “I still have my desk there, but I recently got a call from Geert Coeman asking if they could use it for meetings. I’ll go by soon to clear it out properly,” he concluded.
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