Patrick Lefebvre, team manager of Quick Step Alphavinil, has a good relationship with Remco Evenpole and a long-term contract, so he is not concerned that Ineos Grenadiers is trying to entice the new world champion to move to the team He told Cyclingnews that he is not.

According to Cyclingnews, Ineos Grenadiers made the offer to Evenpoel and his father, who represents him, after it was revealed that a British team was interested in signing the new world champion as a Grand Tour team leader.

Lefebvre revealed to Velonews that Ineos Grenadiers team principal Dave Brailsford sent this message: "If you ever want to sell him one day, give me a call." [Velonews also quoted sources as saying that billionaire Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe is eager to win the Tour de France, but that the British team lacks a solid Tour contender due to Egan Bernal's training accident.

Last week, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Ineos Grenadier offered €15-20 million to Evenapoel to terminate his contract with Quick Step Alphavinir, plus €40-50 million for a multi-year deal He suggested the possibility of offering a multi-year contract.

Lefebvre denied any talk of a transfer, claiming that it would cost Ineos Grenadier at least 100 million euros and cause a legal battle.

Even Paul also denied reports of a soccer-style transfer to Ineos Grenadier at a dinner with Lefebvre upon his return from the World Championships and reportedly confirmed his loyalty to the team and his teammates at a recent Quick Step-Alfavinir get-together

However, he has also denied reports of a transfer to the team.

However, Evenepoel's success at the Vuelta a España and World Championships has changed everything and made him one of the sport's biggest stars. A leading player's agent suggested to Cycling News that if Evenepoel was earning around 2.5 million euros per season as part of the deal agreed in the spring of 2021, he is now worth at least twice that.

Lefebvre is known for his shrewd money management and ability to sign talented players. He dismissed the idea that Evenpoel might move to Ineos Grenadiers, expressing confidence in a deal that would tie the Belgian to the team.

"Do I look stupid?"

"People sometimes think I'm stupid, but if I sign a five-year contract, I can handle all scenarios.

"In February 2021 I signed a contract with Remco until 2026. The only thing I have to do is pay it."

"I am not like my other colleagues. They sign riders first and then go looking for sponsorship money. I'm the bookkeeper. I find the money first, then I sign the riders."

Lefebvre will have a bigger budget in 2023 thanks to the arrival of Soudal, an adhesives brand that has moved from rival Lotto Soudal team and joined forces with Quick Step. Specialized will remain as bike sponsor, and Evenpoel will share team leadership with Julian Alaphilippe.

Lefebvre condemned the idea that big-money transfers like those in soccer might become more frequent in professional cycling, as wealthy teams like Ineos Grenadiers would be able to buy players out of contracts.

"If I had stayed in soccer, I would be rich," Lefebvre joked.

"If cycling had a transfer system, I would be one of the happiest people in the sport. Pozzato, Cancellara, then Enric Mas, Julian Alaphilippe, and Remi Cavagna when they were young. They were all on my team and I could have sold them for a lot of money.

Lefebvre denied that Ineos Grenadiers was trying to acquire Evenpoel.

"It's a simple tactic, theoretically, for the Ineos Grenadiers.

"It's normal. They have been after Lemko for years. When he was a junior it was too late. Several riders have competed in the Giro d'Italia and failed to achieve the expected results.

Lefebvre seems eager for Evenpoel to target the 2023 Giro d'Italia, giving the 22-year-old Belgian time to develop further and bolster his team with climbers and Grand Tour riders for the 2024 Tour de France.

Evenpoel is reportedly impatient to make his Tour de France debut and is not happy that Quick-Step Alphavinir has signed Tim Merlier but failed to strengthen its roster in other ways.

"I said that 2022 would be a turning point, but Lemko won [the Grand Tour] a year before we thought he would," Lefebvre told Cycling News. [Like Mattia Cattaneo, who was 11th in the Tour de France, he can climb, and in 2024 we have to find a new rider.

"The team was strong enough to help Lemko win the Vuelta, with two young riders finishing the race after 10 days.

"I think it's easier to win the Tour de France than the Vuelta a España. You just have to follow them and then beat them."

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