Remco Evenepoel will remain with Patrick Lefevere at QuickStep until at least the end of 2026. It’s the longest contract in the pro peloton right now, only matched by Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar’s contract that also ends in 2026.
Such long contracts are becoming more common–Wout van Art, for example, is contracted with Jumbo-Visma until the end of 2024–but remain rare in a sport in which pro team sponsorships are often fragile, short-lived phenomena.
Lefevere was helped by a right of first refusal built into Evenepoel’s current contract, meaning he could only leave if the team ceased to exist or a competitor was able to make an offer that improved on it. And competitors did try: Offers came from Ineos Grenadiers and BORA-Hansgrohe, while Israel Start-Up Nation and Bahrain-Victorious made inquiries. Yet Evenepoel had no real intention of leaving the Wolfpack, believing his relationship with Lefevere is a positive for his development.
Such a long contract might imply a long future for QuickStep. Yet it’s likely that the long-term sponsoring of the team is tied just as much to retaining such incredible talents on what has a strong claim to the world’s strongest squad. Lefevere is putting together an incredible package of successful and popular riders with which to seduce potential sponsors in the year to come.
Beyond Evenepoel, rumors are circulating that Peter Sagan will be moving over to the Wolfpack at the end of this season. Cyclry has also learned that 2021 Ronde van Vlaanderen winner Kasper Asgreen has also reached an agreement on a contract extension. Julian Alaphilippe’s contract will be the next priority.
It’s a bright future. One that Evenepoel will be leading. He returns for the Giro d’Italia on May 8.