Quick Step general manager Patrick Lefevere is feeling hopeful about his chances of securing a replacement sponsor for the 2012 season, believing that he will have something secured in time to ensure the team continues.
“It was a gruelling week, but I’m close to a breakthrough,” he told Sporza. “I haven’t gone to races much in the past month but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy.”
The Belgian is working hard in order to get something in place and thus be able to concentrate on racing issues next season. He wants to avoid being in the same situation as Gerry Van Gerwen of Milram or Jean Rene Bernaudeau of BBox Bouygues Telecom. The former has been unsuccessful in his bid to get a new backer for the German ProTour team, while the latter did secure a last minute replacement, but not before losing prize riders such as Pierrick Fedrigo. He also didn’t do his stress levels any favours.
For this reason, Lefevere has been pushing onwards. “I've worked hard on the future and there were some gruelling weeks. In some cases, I am close to a breakthrough. I have not [yet] been so, but I am hopeful for the future."
The squad is one of the most popular in Belgium, sharing the centre stage with Omega Pharma Lotto. Star rider Tom Boonen has had a quiet season due to a knee injury, being unable to compete in the Belgian championships, Tour de France, Vuelta a España and world championships. However Sylvain Chavanel stepped up at the Tour, winning two stages and wearing the yellow jersey on two occasions. Fellow Frenchman Jerome Pineau spent several days at the head of the King of the Mountains classification.
Boonen is now over his knee problem and expects to be back to his best by next spring. Another win in Paris-Roubaix or the Tour of Flanders would make Lefevere’s task an easier one, but he doesn’t sound like he plans to be waiting around that long. If he can finalise something over the next few weeks, he’ll seize the chance.