Soudal-QuickStep team manager Patrick Lefebvre called comments by Lemko Evenpoel's father that world champion Lemko Evenpoel could leave the Belgian team "stupid" and warned that not honoring the contract could could lead to legal action, he warned.

Just a week ago, Evenpoel described reports that he might leave Sourdal Quickstep for Ineos Grenadiers or another rival team as "a little bullshit going around." [On Saturday, however, Patrick Evenpoel admitted to Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure that a transfer was a possibility. Patrick Evenpoel is a former roofer but now represents his son.

"I contacted five big teams, three of which were very concrete," La Derniere Heure quoted Patrick Evenpoel as saying. [Ineos Grenadiers, Israel-Premier Tech, and Bora-Hansgrohe are all interested in signing Evenpoel if he can get out of his contract with Soudal-QuickStep.

Lefevere revealed in his weekly Nieuwsblad column that Soudal-QuickStep is close to signing Mikel Landa as a key supporter of Evenpoel in 2024, but will move to UAE Team Emirates Pavel Sivakov, and Lawrence de Plus, who chose to remain with Ineos Grenadiers, admitted that they failed to acquire him.

The strength of the Sûre-Quick Step seems to be Patrick Evenpoel's biggest concern, as his son hopes to challenge Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar in the 2024 Tour de France. Interest from other teams and possible dissatisfaction with the strength of the 2024 Sourdal-Quickstep roster has led him to demand more from Sourdal-Quickstep and Lefebvre.

"This is logical, as I don't know if Srdal Quickstep can offer Lemko a guarantee that they will be able to compete for the championship in the Grand Boucle next year. Maybe in three years, but Lemko wants to give his best in the Tour next year," Patrick Evenpoel told La Derniere Heure.

Patrick Evenpoel refused assurances that his son would honor his contract and stay with Sourdal-Quick Step in 2024.

"First we have to see how the team evolves. Lemko wants to stay on, provided he does everything he can to be competitive in the Tour next summer." But to compete with Vingegaard and Pogacar, the team must take not one, but four or five steps forward."

Evenpoel has a contract with Soudal Quickstep until the end of 2026.

To leave, he would have to sign an early exit agreement, possibly by paying a salary to the team to buy out his contract. However, Lefebvre has always refuted such an idea, citing the risk of legal action from sponsors and the impact that losing Evenpoel would have on the team.

Lefevere was in Glasgow for the UCI Road World Championships to watch Evenpoel try to defend the rainbow jersey he won in Australia last year.

He tried to brush off Patrick Evenpoel's comments, but warned of the legal risks of divorce.

"Not very scary, but it's his stupidity," Lefebvre said.

"Last week, Lemko said the 'bullshit' had to end. Only a week later, his father said the opposite. The Evenpole family must harmonize their violins."

"Our team is taking steps in all areas. The possibility of leaving the team is immense for him and for us. I do not want to be in his position. If we don't honor the contract, we will be sued. It would be terrible for our sponsors."

Speaking to Sporza, Lefebvre suggested that Evenpoel's contract is on par with other key players in the peloton and that Patrick Evenpoel's comments would offend those who will soon be running for him in the Vuelta a España.

"These remarks are annoying to the sponsors. They have a contract for a five-year story about Lemko. So when they read this, they will not be so happy. Because this is now global news."