'Panic is a bad advisor' – Former team boss Patrick Lefevere urges patience as Soudal-QuickStep make rare winless start to the season

Belgium - Ekhbary News Agency

'Panic is a bad advisor' – Patrick Lefevere urges patience as Soudal-QuickStep endure rare winless start

Patrick Lefevere, the iconic figure and long-serving manager in the cycling world, has reappeared at the race scene, joining the Soudal-QuickStep team at the UAE Tour. Despite not being fully recovered from a recent serious bout of illness, Lefevere, who led the Belgian squad for over two decades, was present supporting the team as they navigate an uncharacteristic winless streak 37 days into the season – their longest such wait in their 23-year history.

Donning a team-branded white long-sleeve shirt, brown shorts, and a blue trilby hat, the team's honorary executive board member cut a distinctive figure among the riders. Speaking to Cyclingnews ahead of the stage 2 time trial, Lefevere stressed the importance of patience, attributing the team's slow start to a degree of misfortune. He highlighted the absence of key riders like Tim Merlier, sidelined with knee problems, and Paul Magnier due to health issues. "Well, we've had a little bit of bad luck, because we lost Tim Merlier with knee problems and also Paul Magnier with health problems. But OK, the season is long," Lefevere stated.

He acknowledged the growing nervousness within the sport as rival teams secure victories but expressed confidence that a significant win would quickly silence any criticism. "Everybody starts to be nervous because the others are winning. But if you win something like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, for us, or a Classic, everybody will shut up, won't they?" he remarked, reiterating his long-held philosophy: "I always had a nice expression, 'Panic is a bad advisor'."

Historically, the Quick-Step legacy has often been built on early-season success, propelled by world-class sprinters such as Tom Boonen, Mark Cavendish, and Sam Bennett during Lefevere's tenure. Now, under the leadership of Jurgen Foré, the team faces the challenge of breaking this winless spell. They are currently one of only four men's WorldTour teams yet to register a victory in 2026. However, the drought may be short-lived. Paul Magnier is scheduled to compete in his second race of the season at the Volta ao Algarve this week, potentially altering the statistics swiftly. With the team's primary focus shifting towards the Spring Classics, these prestigious races will serve as the ultimate benchmark for their performance.

Perhaps mellowing with age or gaining a new perspective from his recent health struggles, Lefevere appeared less inclined to engage in public spats with rivals, such as Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe boss Ralph Denk. Instead, his focus seemed to be on appreciating the racing and enjoying the warmer climate. He had previously revealed the severity of his illness to a podcast last month, admitting, "I thought I was going to die. Twice, I told my wife that it was all over for me," after suffering from an abscess and two bouts of septicemia, which necessitated significant lifestyle changes.

Providing an update on his health, Lefevere said, "I'm not recovered 100%, but it's going up." He explained his presence in the Middle East partly as a desire to escape the cold, wet weather in Europe. "I like to go to those countries. It's always sunny and in Belgium, well, I think in the whole of Europe, there was rain, wind, cold, and I said, 'I have to escape'," he shared.

Adding another layer to the team's narrative, former star rider Remco Evenepoel is currently leading the UAE Tour after winning the stage 2 time trial. Although Lefevere and Evenepoel maintain contact, even after the rider's move to Red Bull, Lefevere had not yet seen him at the tour. Nonetheless, he was impressed by Evenepoel's blistering start to 2026, which has already yielded six victories. "I didn't meet with him here yet. From time to time, we do WhatsApp still," Lefevere commented. "But of course, he had a hell of a start. You have to see also who the competitors are, but I think this is the first WorldTour race, and we will see what it brings."

Regarding rising talent Isaac del Toro, Lefevere noted, "[Isaac] del Toro is a phenomenal rider, still so young, and I saw his sprint yesterday on TV – he had guts to go from so far, but we'll see on the last day."

When asked about staying competitive in the rapidly evolving world of cycling, Lefevere drew parallels to the broader technological advancements impacting everyday life, emphasizing the necessity of adaptation. "Well, the world is moving quickly, so we cannot stand still. It's not only cycling, but the total world," he stated. "If you see what happens now, with AI and all those tools. Now you don't know if you see a picture with a real one or a false one, so I don't know, it's going fast. I'm an old guy, but I just try to adapt."

Ekhbary News Agency