Even though Etixx-Quick Step leaders didn't exactly impress with their form in the exciting finale of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Patrick Levefere was in his very peak condition while talking to press right after the Belgian season's opening race reached its surprising conclusion. The Etixx manager openly criticized the race winner, Ian Stannard, for his brilliantly simple tactics against three of his riders, but the British rider has found equally simple reply.

“Stannard did what he had to do. Then again, I think that a rider from his calibre from that team should share the work until the gap was 40 seconds. He played it hard but tomorrow or next week it’s another race, then we can play that game. Stannard was team leader today. A team leader that was on the wheels for 40 kilometres. A rider of his level, a team leader, doesn’t stay on the wheels for 40 kilometres,” Lefevere said after the race.

Stannard calmly turned down Lefevere's criticism, wisely asking what king of tactical advice experienced Belgian manager would give his riders, if one of them found himself in exactly the same situation.

„I would like to know how Lefevere would evaluate this situation if there were three Sky riders against one from Etixx, not the opposite,” Stannard said, according to Radsport-News.

„They have chosen wrong tactics which in the end of the day have made things pretty simple for me. Not that it's easy to win against these guys, but they sort of served me this victory on a plate.”

The 27-year old Team Sky rider graciously understood disappointment of the Belgian team manager, though, and didn't feel offended by his words.

„He was disappointed and that's why he came out with this kind of comments. I'm not thinking too intensively about it,” he concluded.