Patrick Lefevere is an old school boss, but it cannot be generalized, because in the old school there are all kinds of people. Eusebio Unzue belongs to it, who began his career as a director aboard a Seat 124, which is now a classic vehicle, and the Navarrese is a thorough man, who is not accustomed to excess; He is also from the old Mauro Gianetti school, but Tadej Pogacar’s Swiss boss is also a discreet gentleman, although he smiles openly with each victory of his pupil.
There are those who abandoned a long time ago, like José Miguel Echavarri, who did not make statements, but instead told parables, or posed enigmas, like that one, before a group of journalists, in Madonna di Campiglio, Giro of 1999, with a splendid sun, nor a wisp of wind and a clear sky: “It looks like a storm is coming.” Half an hour later, those same informants were crowding the Touring Hotel. Pantani had been expelled for excessive hematocrit.
But in the old school there is also a faction of directors without a filter, such as the Frenchman Marc Madiot and, above all, the Belgian Patrick Lefevere, who heads the dangerous division of loudmouths. He doesn’t know how to bite his tongue, or maybe he doesn’t do it to avoid poisoning himself. He steps in all the puddles and splashes, of course, on others. “A women’s team? With all due respect, I am not a social center,” he said in 2021, and received a slap from the International Cycling Union. After signing, at the beginning of this season, Gianni Moscon, implicated in various incidents, including some with racist overtones, he noted that he preferred, “someone with character than a sheep who only said yes to everything.”
Last year he clashed again with the UCI, genius and figure, after hiring a helicopter as other teams had done with their leaders, to evacuate Remco Evenepoel from the top of Gran Sasso. The others avoided the controversy, but Lefevere responded. “They talk about fair play, where does it begin and end? There are teams that have 20 million more budget than us, is that fair play? You can continue that discussion until tomorrow morning.”
But one of the biggest came in February, when he attacked Julian Alaphilippe, a rider on his team, and Marion Rousse, the cyclist’s wife and director of the women’s Tour. Lefevere played his loudmouth role again: “Julian is a good guy, but after signing his mega contract he no longer performed.” And he poured even more gasoline: “Too many parties, too much alcohol. “Julian is under the influence of Marion Rousse.” Of course, she responded that, “it is unacceptable to address our private life as he does.” And she talked about her three-month-old son, incompatible with going out partying. “Plus, we don’t drink alcohol.” Lefevere had to back away, but not completely. “He hasn’t had a drink since our conversation in November 2022,” and she added: “From a publicity point of view, he remains a god in France.” Despite this, I also want results and they have been very few.”
Alaphilippe kept a low profile in the controversy that involved his wife and his employer, he continued training and seeking the results that were demanded of him. He is one of the classiest cyclists in the world, and his teammates recognize him as such, so the Giro was a good opportunity for him. He had never competed in it since he debuted as a professional in 2013, but that wasn’t going to stop him from talking about the bike. He missed his first opportunity in the sixth stage, when Pelayo Sánchez achieved the first Spanish victory after beating him at the finish. “He was stronger than me,” confessed the Frenchman. But in the twelfth the moment he was waiting for arrived.
He got into a breakaway with Mirco Maestri, 125 kilometers from the finish line. They understood each other perfectly to not allow their pursuers to hope to catch up with them, while the peloton, more than five minutes away, had fun and suffered with the fans that Bahrain tried to take advantage of when the wind blew sideways.
At this point, on the penultimate hill, Alaphillipe had already left Maestri, whom he later thanked for his services: “The cooperation has been excellent, and he also deserved to win.”
He endured the remaining 11 kilometers, twisted at the last wall, and raised his arms at the finish line, after 346 days, with a wink to Marion Rousse, his wife. “I thank my team, my wife and my son, who have always supported me.” The other cyclists also support him. Pogacar, the true boss, says it: “Alaphilippe showed that he is back, only champions are capable of such actions. “He more than deserves this success.”
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