Commenting on broadly discussed challenge thrown to main Grand Tour contenders by Oleg Tinkov, Omega Pharma – Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere supported the general idea of having all best stage racers clashing in the same events. He emphasized, however, that such achievement won’t be physically feasible without shortening Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana at least to 17 days.

Not too overwhelmed by Tinkoff-Saxo owner’s offer, Omega Pharma – Quick Step manager insisted that encouraging top riders to follow the same race programme would have a positive impact on the discipline.

He left no doubts, though, that participating in all Grand Tour events in one season and – what’s the most important – remaining competitive, is currently impossible and would require shortening both the Italian and Spanish three-week event.

"Indeed, sometimes you see the best riders avoiding racing against each other, that is regrettable," Lefevere said to Het Nieuwsblad. "But as the Grand Tours now are organized, it is not physically feasible for them to race all three. The Giro starts in early May, the Vuelta ends in mid-September, and in between is the Tour. Whoever races them all has 66 days of racing over about 120 days. The solution is to shorten the Vuelta and the Giro to 17 days, or in my opinion, 15 days."

"To say this to a journalist is one thing, but to pay is another. Do you remember how Tinkov promised Rafal Majka an Aston Martin if he won two stages in the Tour? Suddenly it was only a joke, and Majka had to be happy with a matchbox."