The iconic Patrick Lefevere has announced his retirement after 23 success laden years as CEO of the Belgian Quick-Step team.
Lefevere oversaw Mark Cavendish’s golden years and more recently helped double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel to a series of triumphs.
The Belgian founded the team back in 2003. Since then, they have registered nearly 1,000 race victories, including 19 World Championship titles, three Olympic gold medals and four European Championships.
An avuncular but forthright figure Lefevere said that as a 70-year-old he no longer felt physically capable of fulfilling his role
“The team has become so big, with the arrival of the women’s squad in particular. There are more than a hundred people to manage. It was becoming a lot.”
Lefevere, himself a former cyclist who won an individual stage at the 1978 Vuelta a Espana, will be replaced by Jurgen Fore, who was appointed COO earlier this year.
The 54-year-old, also from Belgium, has previously been a partner at Deloitte. He will be working as part of the executive board, to which Lefevere has also been appointed as an honorary member.
“I felt that it was the right moment for this change,” Lefevere continued. “When I started to work with Jurgen [Fore] one year ago, it was with a view to smoothing out the transition for when I would eventually leave. “I have seen how his relationships with our sponsors and partners, as well as the team’s internal stakeholders, has grown over the last 12 months. I know that with Jurgen taking over as CEO and with the board’s backing, that this team has a bright future.”
Fore said: “I am extremely proud to take over as CEO of this historic team. Patrick Lefevere has been a figurehead in professional cycling, who all have great respect and admiration for. “He has been able to build a firm base and stability that has seen this team grow for over two decades.
“I would like to personally thank him for the support that he has given me over the past 12 months since I joined the team. I understand and feel how special this organization is, and I will do everything in my power to take care of it. I will now look to lead this team, working towards securing its long-term future. I have been involved in cycling in several roles and as part of the team’s management, and I am confident that by combining this with my experience in business, it will allow me to build a structure that can take Soudal Quick-Step from strength to strength.”
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