It was announced on Tuesday that Patrick Lefevere will step down as CEO of Soudal - Quick Step at the end of the year - a move that has been planned for some time and is now being put into practice. The 69-year-old Lefevere is handing over the baton to Jurgen Foré, who has been COO of the team since 2024.
Almost 1000 victories and explosive statements
Lefevere founded the current team in 2003 under the name Quick Step - Davitamon. Under his aegis, riders such as Tom Boonen, Niki Terpstra, Julian Alaphilippe and Remco Evenepoel matured into world stars. Almost 1000 victories were won, including 22 monuments, 1 Grand Tour and 124 Grand Tour stages. Before his time as managing director, Lefevere, who was a professional cyclist himself from 1976 to 1979, worked as sports director at Mapei and other companies. The 69-year-old is regarded as a guy with rough edges, who has often attracted attention with provocative statements, such as the one at the beginning of this year when he called his protégé Julian Alaphilippe sharply criticised and also included his partner Marion Rousse. However, Lefevere later rowed back again.
According to the Belgian, now is the right time for him to step down from the big stage. "When I started working with Jurgen a year ago, it was with the aim of smoothing the transition when I would eventually leave," Lefevere is quoted as saying on the Soudal - Quick Step website. "I have seen his relationships with our sponsors and partners, as well as the team's internal stakeholders, develop over the last 12 months and I know that with Jurgen taking over as CEO and the support of the board, this team has a bright future."
Patrick Lefevere remains with Soudal - Quick Step
Lefevere's successor Foré will work on a board consisting of majority shareholder Zdenek Bakala and Auret van Zyl. The latter has long acted as legal advisor to the team. Lefevere will also be part of the new structure as an honorary board member.
"We believe that this is the right time to make these structural changes in the management of our team, which have been made in agreement with all those involved. With this change, I am showing my commitment to the long-term future of the team and to securing a bright future for Soudal - Quick Step," said Bakala.
