Soudal-QuickStep boss Patrick Lefebvre has admitted that star rider Lemko Evenpoel may be taking on a new classic next spring.

In an interview with La Dernière Heure last week, Lefebvre admitted that Evenpoel could compete in the Milan-San Remo and Tour de Flanders next spring.

According to Het Nieuwsblad reporter José De Cauwer, the veteran team boss admitted that the team leader contacted him on the day of Paris-Roubaix and laid out tentative plans for next spring.

"Let me tell you the whole story. As you all know, I got sick on the day of Paris-Roubaix this year. I had stomach problems. I ate low-fat yogurt all weekend and then went to a local Italian restaurant on Sunday for lasagna. [Anyway, I started texting Lemko in front of the TV and in front of the lasagna. Patrick, as for the last few weeks.... Next year is different. Next year is different.

"I think Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders are feasible in his program," Lefebvre concluded. 'After that, he could add Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The Tour de France is a long way off by then."

This would be a major change in the Belgian team's spring plans after several seasons plagued by a relative lack of success in the cobbled classics.

Quick Step, once a team that gets going in March and April, has only won the Cune Brussel Cune in the past three seasons.

This year, the team's best result was Tim Merlier's second-place finish in the Classique Bruges des Pins, and it closed out its cobbled campaign with 18th and 36th places in Flanders and Roubaix. In recent seasons, the team has turned its attention away from the classics and focused on supporting Evenpoel's GC ambitions.

"I think Oiel Lazcano is a very good match for us and we really followed him," Lefebvre replied when asked about the Basque racer and the prospect of a move for Laurens Piti.

"[Quick Step masseur and scout] Johan Morey was in informal contact with many French and Spanish riders, and through him we knew that Lazcano was also eager to join.

"But his manager was Giuseppe Acquadro, and he started the game. He bet on five horses and raised the price. I don't think Lazcano is there anymore. I have heard nothing more about it."

While it is unlikely that Lazcano or Petit, who is expected to move to Bora Hansgrohe, will join him, Lefebvre still has a gap to fill for 2025, even if fewer riders are out of contract after this season.

"There are only seven riders whose contracts have expired. Last year there were 18. The team will not be much different next year. We will also extend the contracts of some of the riders whose contracts are currently expiring," he said, before discussing the status of Julian Alaphilippe's contract.

"Despite the run-ins with Total Energy and Cofidis, his manager, Dries Smets, has publicly stated that Julien still wants to come back with us.

"I didn't say 'no,' but the timing was wrong in the media. I read here and there that 'Lefebvre wants to sit with us in the Giro. ' I said, 'Not until after the Giro at the earliest.'