Charismatic Quick-Step cycling boss Patrick Lefevere announced he was retiring on Wednesday after 23 success-laden years.

A Legacy Of Triumphs

Lefevere oversaw Mark Cavendish's golden years and more recently helped double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel to a series of triumphs. His tenure at the head of the team garnered almost 1,000 wins, including 22 monuments (the five biggest one-day races), 124 Grand Tour stage wins, and one Grand Tour victory with Evenepoel at the Vuelta.

Stepping Down

An avuncular but forthright figure, Lefevere said that as a 70-year-old, he no longer felt physically capable of fulfilling his role. "The team has become so big, with the arrival of the women's squad in particular. There are more than a hundred people to manage. It was becoming a lot," he explained.

New Leadership

Quick-Step Soudal's chief operations manager Jurgen Foe will take over from Lefevere. One of his key tasks will be to hold on to Evenepoel, a regular target for the richest teams.