For the first time in his career, Remco Evenepoel is preparing for the Tour de France. Whether or not he can challenge the likes of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, however, remains a hot topic in the cycling world.
“We are certainly aiming for stage victories; there is a Time Trial… Remco has a winning mentality, but we also need to be realistic”, says Koen Pelgrim, the Belgian’s coach at Soudal Quick-Step, in conversation with the website idlprocycling.com.
Opponents to beat
“Clearly some cyclists have an advantage in Grand Tours,” Pelgrim honestly admits. “They are more likely to be the winner than Remco, so it would be ambitious to aim solely for the overall victory. A Tour podium would be fantastic, but we would also be satisfied with stage wins and a strong overall classification.”
Visma-Lease the Bike dominated the last Vuelta a España
In his most recent Grand Tour, the 2023 Vuelta a Espana, Evenepoel, like everyone else in the race, was overtaken by Visma-Lease a Bike’s dominance.
“Once again, we have the potential to assemble a strong team for the Tour. When you consider all the names, it’s definitely a formidable lineup,” says Pelgrim, insisting that Soudal QuickStep can be competitive in the Tour de France.
“The final team has not yet been confirmed, so it is the management team’s job to announce it. Several cyclists, if they are in good shape, will join us, but we are aiming for a diverse team.”
Improvements and advances
“There is always room for improvement, but each advance means that subsequent ones must be smaller. The essence of sport is always about pushing your own limits”, continues the coach.
“Remco has had a productive winter, and the early signs are promising. Considering his age, it wouldn’t be surprising if he made further progress, although he has already reached a high level for some time now. We are improving things, experimenting to see what works and what doesn’t”, concludes Pelgrim.