Although he said he was “over the moon” for his student, the team’s director of Remco Evenepoel took advantage of the Belgian phenomenon’s Olympic gold during the time trial of Paris 2024 complain about the lack of benefits for the teams during the cycling events at the Olympic Games. Patrick Levevereone of the most recognized directors within the platoon and leader of Soudal Quick-Step, has raised dust with his latest statements.
“Strictly speaking, none. On the contrary, It costs us a bonus. Higher than the 50,000 euros that Remco receives from the National Lottery,” Lefevere answered about the implications of Evenepoel’s victory for the team. “We will give him the same as if he had won a Monument. All this without him being able to use his Olympic title for publicity purposes,” he added in a conversation with the Belgian newspaper. La Dernière Heure.
Evenepoel had the full support of his usual team of technicians and physical trainers, as well as all the equipment provided in races such as the recent Tour de France, where he finished third behind. Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.
“We put everything at his disposal so that he could become an Olympic champion: the team, the staff… This is the third time, after Pascal Richard in 1994 and Paolo Bettini in 2004, that one of my cyclists became an Olympic champion. As an employer, A bit disappointingbut of course I’m very happy for Remco, who deserves it,” added the experienced boss of the Belgian team.
He strict Olympic regulations, which prohibits any kind of visibility of commercial brands and sponsors on the clothing of the athletes, is the reason for this inability for the team to benefit. The Soudal Quick-Step, therefore, does not appear on the jersey or helmet of the runner, or in other common areas such as bottles or the bike itself. Only brands that equip cyclists, in this case, can benefit from the image of Olympic participation and success within the framework of the Games.
This is next Saturday August 3Evenepoel will be looking for his second Olympic gold in the road race which starts at 11am, where he will face rivals of the caliber of Mathieu van der Poel, Mads Pedersen, Tom Pidcock and his compatriot Wout van Aert in a in the most anticipated competitions of these Games.
Source: La Verdad
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