Former Soudal Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere was hospitalised on Wednesday evening after becoming unwell while dining at a restaurant. The 70-year-old was taken to Gent University Hospital, where he spent the night in intensive care.
According to La Dernière Heure, Lefevere remained conscious during the incident, but no further details have been given about his condition. Reports suggest he felt fatigued on Thursday morning and will undergo further tests to determine the cause of his illness. Het Nieuwsblad later reported that he had been discharged from hospital, with a possible drop in blood pressure being the cause of his sudden illness.
Lefevere, who stepped down from his long-running role as Soudal Quick-Step team manager at the end of last season, was present at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad last Saturday. He was honoured for his career by organiser Flanders Classics before the race. He also travelled to watch and support AG Insurance-Soudal at the UAE Tour Women this season.
A key figure in professional cycling for decades, Lefevere first made his name as a rider, winning Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and a stage of the Vuelta a España. He transitioned into team management in the 1980s, working with Lotto, TVM, MG-GB, and Mapei before becoming the driving force behind Quick-Step’s success from 2003 onwards.
Following his departure from Soudal Quick-Step, he was succeeded by Jurgen Foré, the son of 1963 Tour of Flanders winner Noël Foré.
