Remco Evenepoel has given a straight-faced however veiled indication that he’ll keep on the Soudal Fast-Step staff in 2025 regardless of studies of curiosity from Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and an obvious deadline for any main switch deal.
Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe staff supervisor Ralph Denk additionally described the studies as ‘gossip’ with out denying that talks, potential offers and deadlines have been mentioned.
Evenepoel is beneath contract with Soudal Fast-Step till the tip of 2026 however a rising variety of studies have recommended that Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have given the Belgian a deadline to determine on the transfer. The arrival of the vitality drink model has massively raised the ambitions of the staff and Evenepoel appears an excellent future Grand Tour chief.
Any provide is more likely to be important, with Evenpoel maybe commanding an annual wage of between 4 or 5 million euros, and a charge to cowl any contract buy-out prices. Any deal must be agreed by all events and accredited by the UCI.
Soudal Fast-Step staff supervisor Patrick Lefevere has usually clashed with Evenepoel’s father, who acts as his agent, and has warned that any deal might be costly and legally complicated.
The speculations and studies have solely intensified because the Tour and Evenepoel’s double gold-medal profitable efficiency on the Paris Olympic Video games. He returned to racing on the Tour of Britain and the ultimate query from Flemish media on the race was about his future.
“I do not know something about that,” Evenepoel informed the huddle of Flemish media, with out revealing any emotion or response to the topic.
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“A lot at all times comes out with none fact to it. I don’t know what that might be about. I have not seen something myself.”
When requested if he’ll nonetheless experience for Soudal Fast-Step in 2025: Evenepoel replied: “That is a sure.”
Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe staff supervisor Ralph Denk celebrated Primož Roglič’s Vuelta a Espana victory in Madrid however couldn’t escape questions on Evenepoel.
Some studies have recommended that Roglič could possibly be a part of a swap cope with Soudal Fast-Step. Final yr he left Jumbo-Visma for a Tour de France management function. Nevertheless Purple Bull then took a majority stake within the staff and Roglic crashed out of the French Grand Tour, whereas Evenepoel proved his Tour credentials.
“I hear and browse the rumours daily in Italian, English and the Belgian media however I’ve nothing to say about it,” Denk informed Het Laatste Nieuws when intercepted in Madrid.
“They’re gossip and I’ll not, can not and won’t reply to them. Irrespective of how annoying that’s.”
Evenepoel travelled to his house in Spain after the Tour of Britain for a ultimate block of coaching earlier than the World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. He has opted out of this week’s European Championships in Belgium for an even bigger and higher block of coaching.
Evenepoel tried to be aggressive in the course of the Tour of Britain however misplaced time and so labored for teammates Julian Alaphilippe and Paul Magnier.
“It was a matter of increase and getting again into it. I could not do greater than that,” he mentioned.
“I simply have to enhance every part and get higher. Going to an altitude coaching camp isn’t an possibility, I might be coaching at sea degree.”
“It is all about depth, coaching behind the moped and on my time trial bike.”
“I simply have to coach onerous after which construct up some freshness for the time trial on September 22, then I’ve one week left till the highway race.”
