Controversial and outspoken Deceuninck-QuickStep team boss Patrick Lefevere has signaled his team's intent to aim for a Grand Tour win in the longer term.
The plan, which is based around Remco Evenepoel, represents a significant shift for the Belgian World Tour team. While Evenepoel is one of the most exciting riders in pro cycling at present, he has not yet excelled in a Grand Tours or in the hardest one-day classics.
Lefevere outlined his plan when announcing the signing of Belgian climbing domestique Louis Vervaeke (28) to help Evenepoel in the mountains.
"We have a long-term vision to fight for a Grand Tour overall victory, and for that we also need strong helpers for the mountains," Lefevere said.
"Louis possesses a lot of qualities, can support our leaders on the climbs and can maybe go for his own chance whenever an opportunity arises. We hope to give Louis a nice environment in which he feels well and where he can further develop.”
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While news the team plans to build its approach to some Grand Tours around Evenepoel's abilities will perhaps come as no surprise, it is the first time Lefevere has said Deceuninck-QuickStep's plan is to aim to win a Grand Tour.
The team's decision not to follow most other major teams and target the general classification in Grand Tours has been one of its major strengths.
It has left the team free to target stage victories in three-week races. It has also meant Grand Tour GC aspirations don't dominate the team's season in the way aiming for Giro, Tour of Vuelta GC does for many other squads.
The team has also not gone into the transfer market before now looking to bolster its climbing abilities for Grand Tours, leaving it much freer to recruit riders who are capable of winning other races. In following that path it has been the most prolific team in cycling.
While Julian Alaphilippe held the yellow jersey deep into the 2019 Tour de France, the team did not target the GC and has never signaled any intent to win a Grand Tour overall before now.
