Patrick Lefévère, the manager of Quick-Step, kicked up a fuss this Sunday, criticizing the management of the Tour de France organizers.
The Quick-Step could have a smile on Sunday at the finish of the 2nd stage of the Tour de France. If Remco Evenepoel was unable to follow Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard on the climb towards San Luca when the Slovenian attacked, a good descent and his riding skills allowed him to get back with Richard Carapaz on the two main leaders of the Tour.
As hoped before the start of the Tour de France, the Belgian comes out of this first weekend without having lost time on his rivals. Obviously reassuring for the rest of the program and in particular this 4th stage, Tuesday, with the ascent of the Galibier on the menu. Not sure, however, that this is enough to appease Patrick Lefévère. The boss of the Quick-Step has indeed had a bad time since Saturday and the fall of his rider Jan Hirt, caused by a spectator’s bag before the start of the first stage of the Tour de France, Saturday in Florence.
“We have not received an apology”
The 33-year-old Czech, eighth in the last Giro, got stuck in a spectator’s backpack behind a barrier before falling over his handlebars. The verdict is heavy since Jan Hirt broke three teeth. “What happened is unacceptable, the boss of Quick-Step said in the Belgian press. We have so many rules and we have to pay for everything. Then the accident happens with this stupid spectator and his backpack.” But even more than the accident, it is the lack of empathy of the Tour organizers that is not going down well.
“No, ASO did not apologizehe said.
But they must have at least read my message on social media, right? I saw people looking sad at the hotel but I don’t care. We didn’t get an apology.” And Patrick Lefévère continued by detailing the ordeal experienced by his rider: “During the stage, he couldn’t eat, not even gels. He survived the whole stage only with bottles of water.”
“I arranged for him to be treated in a private clinic, he continued. HFortunately, he was able to return to the hotel in the evening with three repaired teeth. »
A relief for the person concerned. “We went straight to see him,” confided the Czech rider. “We spent two hours there yesterday (Saturday) evening but it’s much better now,” he confided to Cyglingnews, adding: “I’m obviously unhappy, it was really boring but life goes on.”
