Patrick Lefevere frustrated as Mark Cavendish contract talks continue: 'It gets on my nerves that it drags on for so long'
Lefevere is at the Six Days of Ghent to try and finally put pen to paper

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Deceuninck - Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere is growing frustrated as contract negotiations with Mark Cavendish drag on into the last days of November.
Lefevere is in 't Kuipke as Cavendish competes in the Six Days of Ghent alongside Deceuninck - Quick-Step team-mate Iljo Keisse - the pair currently in fourth place behind leaders Michael Mørkøv and Lasse Norman Hansen - and hopes to get a deal sorted while the pair are in the vicinity.
"Otherwise it will be postponed again," Lefevere told Het Laatste Nieuws of his desire to get a deal done this weekend. "I want to finish this on Saturday. I know he wants that too. Every time he hears [from] someone from the team, he asks what I said."
Discussing the obstacles that still sit in front of getting pen to paper, Lefevere suggests it's not only a question of financials but also Cavendish's stated desire to start his journey as a backroom member of staff with Deceuninck - Quick-Step after he retires from racing.
“Cavendish thinks that his image has value, but I have to think about the image of my team. Where will it go if I start with this? Then next week 'the next sexy thing' will be at my door," Lefevere said.
“When I ask what is, he says that he wants to walk with me and learn. But do I have to pay someone to learn?”
Cavendish was on minimum salary during the 2021 season, earning around €40,000 and needing to bring his own sponsor on board to the team in order for Lefevere to grant him a lifeline and ensure Cavendish still had a place in the WorldTour after another difficult year with Rod Ellingworth's Bahrain-McLaren.
For Lefevere, it turned into a savvy piece of business as Cavendish re-found his form and took his first victories in three years before squeezing himself into the Tour de France line-up and taking four stages to equal Eddy Merckx's record.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Primož Roglič confirms he will leave Jumbo-Visma
Giro d'Italia champion does not reveal his destination for 2024 yet, though
By Adam Becket Published
-
Dr Hutch: The aesthetics of the 'chest-fairing' is a funny hill to want to die on
The earnest buffoonery of budget aero hacks may rile TT diehards, but Cycling Weekly's columnist salutes the cut-price cunning of their innovations
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Mark Cavendish set to reunite with Quick-Step coach for final pro season in 2024
Vasilis Anastopoulos expected to imminently join Astana Qazaqstan along with Michael Mørkøv from Soudal Quick-Step
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish to postpone retirement and ride on with Astana Qazaqstan, reports
British sprinter reported to have reached agreement with current team to continue racing in 2024
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Opinion: Mark Cavendish Netflix documentary shows why Tour de France return is in doubt
Manxman's route out of depression shows what's really important
By Vern Pitt Published
-
‘A terrible loss’ - Mark Cavendish’s team reacts after sprinter abandons Tour de France
Astana-Qazaqstan riders sad to lose their leader, who crashed out of his final Tour de France on stage eight
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mark Cavendish crashes and abandons Tour de France on stage eight
Astana-Qazaqstan sprinter shown holding his collarbone after coming down on stage eight, so no stage win record
By Adam Becket Published
-
'We don't give any presents' - Jasper Philipsen keeps Mark Cavendish waiting for Tour de France record
Belgian continues sprint dominance, and pays tribute to 'best of all time' Cavendish
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mark Cavendish ‘devastated’ as 35th Tour de France stage win slips through his fingers
Manxman suffers mechanical in Bordeaux as Jasper Philipsen grabs third stage win of the race
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
AS IT HAPPENED: Tour de France stage 7: Mark Cavendish gets another record breaking chance
After two thrillers in the Pyrenees its another day for the sprinters as the race heads to Bordeaux
By James Shrubsall Last updated