Ineos keeps alive the dream of fichar a Remco Evenepoel. As you advance VeloNews, the British squad would be addressing the operation of signing the recent World champion of road cycling. Jim Ratcliffe, owner of the team, has shown his interest in having a potential winner of the Tour de France. The Belgian fulfills this condition.
Evenepoel has a contract with QuickStep-AlphaVinyl until 2026. Dave Brailsford, sports director of Ineos, sent a message to Patrick Lefevere, manager of QuickStep-AlphaVinyl, as he recognized VeloNews: “It’s easy. Dave Brailsford texted me after the Vuelta and doesn’t do it often. He told me: ‘Congratulations, what a champion. If you want to sell it one day, call me‘”.
Ineos has seen how it has lost several of its members that have set course for other teams. Jumbo and UAE have moved quickly to land Adam Yates and Dylan Van Baarle, respectively. After the arrivals of Thymen Arensman and Leo Hayter, Ineos seems to set its sights on Evenepoel. Patrick Evenepoel, father and Remco agent, was asked about the Ineos option. “We have been in contact with them for years, but there has never been a meeting. All contact was by phone. It is normal for them to call me after the victories in Liege and the Vuelta to congratulate me,” he said.
asked by VeloNews for a transfer to Ineos, he replied: “That discussion was already there three years ago. Remco still has a contract with Quick Step until 2026. It’s not for me to say anything about it. We want to celebrate the victory in the Vuelta and the world title and we will see what happens in the future,” said Patrick Evenepoel.
The Belgian cyclist, at 22 years old, has signed a great 2022 with the final victory in a Grande, LaVuelta, the triumph of the Liège-Bastoa-Liège, the San Sebastián Classic and lastly, until now, the World Cup in Australia. In April of last year he renewed his contract with Quick-Step for five years. “I’m really honored to sign on for the next five years. This is the longest deal he has signed with a cyclist. I am very proud and happy to remain in this wonderful team, where I have already enjoyed many successes, and I hope that we can achieve our dreams,” Evenepoel said at the time.