On the banks of the Ardennes, across the Liège-Bastogne-Liège finish line, as Remco Evenpole finished the last kilometer of the 257-km marathon through the Ardennes, a small group of Quick-Step Alphavinir staff members were waiting gathered among the soigneurs and journalists who were waiting.

Team manager Patrick Lefebvre, veteran director Wilfried Peters, Tim De Klerk, who had earlier abandoned the race, and the team's press staff were there. The group, which included Evenpoel's parents and girlfriend, was hoping that the 22-year-old Evenpoel would go from being a potential Monument winner to a household name.

When Evenpoel crossed the finish line after 29 km solo, the hectic scene came to life and the Belgian "saved" Quick Step's spring classic campaign at the last minute. Television cameras, photographers, and journalists all clamored for the first pictures and quotes as Evenepoel ran in front of a large crowd of spectators waiting for him.

After the initial exuberant celebration, it was Lefebvre, who had been at the helm of the team for 20 years, who was asked to comment on Evenpoel's feat.

"I did everything I could for Lemko because I knew he was strong," Lefebvre told the assembled press. 'He took Julian Alaphilippe to the front of the peloton three or four times.'

"That wasn't his strong suit, and Julien couldn't always keep up. Here, on the contrary, the plan was for Julien to set Lemko up."

Evenpoel told a post-race press conference that he had endured a long road back to the top after his career-threatening crash at Il Lombardia at the end of 2020.

He concluded that Liège-Bastogne-Liège felt like "the best Lemko" for the first time since that race, after noting the huge role played by the ongoing support from his team and family.

Lefebvre commented that the victory in Evenpoel and the way it was achieved by the unstoppable acceleration on the Côte de la Redoute showed that the team was right to keep faith in their young charge through the long rehabilitation process, both physical and mental, and the difficult road that followed He commented that this shows that the team was right to continue to believe in their young charge throughout the long rehabilitation process and the difficult road that followed.

"This victory shows that investing in him was not a mistake," Lefebvre said. Despite the criticism, we have always had full confidence in him. We knew what he was capable of, but to achieve this is exceptional." [Seeing him attack from the top today, get away easily, and then drop Almirail says it all. Lemko knows this course like the back of his hand. Of course, that helped."

Lefebvre, who oversaw two wins in Liège with Quick Step (the last was Bob Jungels' victory in 2018), said there was tension on the run-in, especially after the chase group behind Evenpoel got organized.

But once the attack from behind began on the final climb of the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, the gap only widened and his victory was assured.

"There was hope," said Lefebvre. "But the three Bahrainis and the three Movistar guys were chasing me. They closed the gap to 16 or 17 seconds. But we (Lefebvre and Peters) said that if he took the lead by 15 seconds, they would never catch up."

"A silly question," Lefebvre replied. 'Yes, of course I am satisfied.'