Opinion: Fabio Jakobsen's debut sprint victory at the Tour de France proves Patrick Lefevere picked it right

Patrick Lefevere is, to put it mildly, not to everyone’s taste. He wouldn’t, for example, know the meaning of the word “woke.” He wouldn’t have described Sam Bennett as “the pinnacle of mental weakness” in a newspaper column published after last year’s Tour de France if he did. Ad/> He also would not have made so many uncharitable, unsympathetic public statements about one of his star riders.

Remco Evenepoel might be the next coming of Merckx, or he might not, but he is definitely still just 22 years-old, so probably ought to be cut a little more slack. Tour de France'The most remarkable thing' – Jakobsen stirring comeback shows he is made of ‘stronger stuff’2 HOURS AGO Lefevere is a product of a different era, and there are those who would debate his place in this one. The reason he has one is that he is also utterly, infuriatingly, brilliant.

If cycling had the profile of football, or if the wider world better understood our sport, he would be recognized for the master strategist and man manager that he is. Comparisons to the likes of Alex Ferguson would abound and, moreover, not be inappropriate. Without fail, and without the resources at the disposal of the likes of Ineos Grenadiers and the supersquads, he wins bike races.

Even a disappointing spring campaign is one in which his team finishes with a Monument and a couple of classics. How many WorldTour outfits would consider that a roaring success? ‘Disgraceful’ – Quick-Step blasted for conduct after Cavendish omission ‘Everyone has a used by date’ – Why Quick-Step’s Cav Tour omission wouldn’t be ‘mad’ Quick-Step boss Lefevere: I won’t let losers with zero followers get to me A “poor” run of form also never lasts long, because he does not allow it. As little time or