PROFESSIONALS | 04/28/2024 | 08:20
by Francesca Monzone
What will be the future of Julian Alaphilippe, Kasper Asgreen and Casper Pedersen? The three are all part of the Soudal-Quick Step and for Patrick Lefevere, if the requests are reasonable, they will all be able to remain on his team: Negotiations should begin next week, i.e. before the start of the Giro d’Italia.
We had left Lefevere the victim of one of his many unfortunate outbursts, in which he touched Julian Alaphilippe’s private life with scathing criticism. This unleashed the wrath of Marion Rousse, partner of the two-time world champion, who forced the Belgian manager to make a public apology. Now everything seems to be over and, after the differences, it seems that the possibility has opened for the Frenchman to remain in the Wolfpack.
«It’s part of the family – Lefevere told GCN – Sometimes we argue and snap, but these are things that always happen in the family. When you’re married, it’s never smooth sailing every day, so if you’re part of a team of 85 people it’s normal for there to be arguments or friction, but at the end of the day we’re adults and we can sit at the table, talk about it face to face and deal with the problem”.
All this is true, especially when a contract is about to end and this is what is happening to Alaphilippe, who could be forced to change team at the end of the year. The former world champion has an extraordinary palmares and almost all French teams would like to bring him home, but it won’t be that easy.
Alaphilippe will race the Giro d’Italia and would like to lay the foundations for a good negotiation before the start of the pink race.
«I think he wants to stay – continued Lefevere – but the time may also have come to start a new adventure. I don’t know his true intentions and I don’t want to say more about it because I would risk being misunderstood. From the team’s CEO I know your agent wants to talk. As far as I know, it costs nothing to talk, but I will only say something after we see each other in person.”
Pedersen and Asgreen also have contracts expiring and Lefevere could leave the doors open for them toobut keeping in mind that funding has decreased.
«Everything will depend on their requests. If they are reasonable in their negotiations, then we will talk about it. Both didn’t have a good start to the season and Asgreen saved his last year with a stage at the Tour. He wasn’t unlucky and it’s difficult to judge a rider like that, so at the moment I don’t feel like saying yes or no.”
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