Patrick Leferet is stepping down as CEO of Sourdal Quickstep, ending an era; COO Jürgen Foret will take over the role Leferet has held for more than 20 years, as planned, starting in late 2023.

Lefebure had promised to remain as team director until 2026, when the team announced that Foret would gradually transition to the CEO role, but the news comes a year early as Lefebure's term ends on December 31, 2024.

Lefebvre will remain as the team's honorary director, while Foret will assume a position on the executive committee along with shareholder Zdenek Bakala and the team's legal counsel, Ole Van Zyl.

“Leaving a role to which I have devoted so much of my life is a life-changing moment,” Lefebvre said in a team press release. Cycling is a sport I am still deeply passionate about, and it has been an honor to lead this beautiful team and create so many special memories.”

.” However, he feels that now is the right time for this transition; he began working with Juergen a year ago to smooth the transition for when he eventually leaves. I have seen how the relationship with sponsors, partners, and internal team stakeholders has grown over the past 12 months, and I know that with Jürgen as CEO and the backing of the board of directors, this team has a bright future.

“The people I have to thank are too numerous to mention individually, but of course my family, the talented riders on the team, the dedicated staff, the loyal sponsors, and the generosity and support of team owner Zdeněk Bakala Thank you.”

Lefebvre spent most of his career as a cyclist, retiring at age 24 to work as a sport director and manager for various teams, including the dominant Mapei team. In 2001, he returned to Belgium and founded the Domo- Farm Frites team, then merged with the remnants of Mapei in 2003 to form Quickstep-Davitamon.

Star riders who have worked with Lefebvre include Johan Museeuw, Paolo Bettini, Tom Bonen, Julien Alaphilippe, and most recently Remco Evenpole.

Lefebvre's management style has been both successful and controversial, and he has openly criticized the riders to the media on several occasions. When he implied that Alaphilippe's partner, Marion Luce, was responsible for his poor performance, Lefebvre was fined 20,000 Swiss francs by the UCI for his “misogynistic” comments.

Lefebvre, who turns 70 in January, has led his team to nearly 1,000 victories, including 19 world titles, 22 monuments, and the only Grand Tour victory at the 2022 Vuelta a España in Remco Evenpoel, according to a press release.

“First of all, I want to thank Patrick for his dedication and passion that made the Sudar Quick Steps what it is today. Patrick has often spoken of the hard work of his staff and riders, but it was fostered by the efforts of those at the top, and we should not underestimate the culture Patrick has created to develop his riders and staff.”

“However, I know that at some point everything changes, and I feel that now is the right time to make the structural changes in team management that were agreed upon by all parties. With this change, I am demonstrating my commitment to the long-term future of the team and ensuring a bright future for Sudar Quickstep.”

The news means that the team is putting aside many of its historic goals in the spring classics to support Evenpoel in its quest to win the Tour de France. The team hired seven new riders for 2025, with Alaphilippe joining Tudor and former Tour of Flanders winner Caspar Asgreen moving to EF Education Easy Post.

Foret will now oversee the future of Soudal-Quick Step and paid tribute to Lefebvre in a press release.

“Patrick Lefebvre is a major figure in professional cycling for whom everyone has great respect and admiration. He has been able to lay a solid foundation and stability for this team to grow for over 20 years. I want to personally thank him for the support he has given me over the past 12 months since I joined the team. I understand and feel how special this organization is.

“I will now lead this team as we work to secure our long-term future. I have been involved in cycling in several roles, as well as being part of the management of the team, and I am confident that by combining this with my business experience, we can build a structure that will allow Soudal Quickstep to go from strength to strength.”