Patrick Lefevere may have dismissed the prospect of new world champion Remco Evenepoel being sold to Ineos Grenadiers, but that has not stopped the QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl team boss fleshing out the price tag of any such move.
He said if Evenepoel were to leave his team and go to Ineos Grenadiers, each of his sponsors - who have invested €25 million with him for each of the next five years - would need to be compensated. Furthermore, Evenepoel's salary would need to be significantly increased by any new team.
"Everything is for sale in the world, hey," Lefevere told Sporza, before suggesting buying Evenepoel would involve a sum of over €100 million. "But then you have to do the maths: a five-year contract with all your sponsors. Let's say €25 million sponsorship deals per year. Times five, that's €125 million.
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"And they’d all claim compensation," he added of his major sponsors looking for compensation if they lost Evenepoel as their backing was predicated on the young Belgian, and Vuelta winner, being in the team's roster in the years ahead.
"By the way, a transfer payment does not mean that you give him the same money. There is still a lot to add," the team boss concluded, suggesting of Evenepoel was moving to a new team, his salary would also need to be increased.
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At present, Julian Alaphilippe is said to be the best-paid rider in the QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl team on €2.3 million per year. Lefevere is notorious for trying to pay his riders as little as possible, with many of his deals involving performance-related bonuses.
Lefevere has described the stories about Evenepoel possibly moving to Ineos Grenadiers as a "fart in a bottle". However, he started the speculation himself when he gave an interview to VeloNews in the wake of Evenepoel's world title win in Wollongong last Sunday.
Lefevere revealed David Brailsford of Ineos Grenadiers had texted him congratulating him on Evenepoel's win before adding "if one day you want to sell him give me a call". Lefevere replied by stating it may be as cheap to buy his whole team.
Ineos Grenadiers has invested in young talent and have a very impressive stable of riders for the years ahead. However, with Egan Bernal's future uncertain after his life-threatening crash earlier this year, the team does not have a rider likely to win a Grand Tour - especially the Tour de France - in coming years.
Signing somebody like Evenepoel would solve that problem. And even though the Belgian has a contract with QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl until the end of 2026, that deal could be bought out by a rival team.
