Cyrille Guimard, former sporting director for names like Laurent Fignon, Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault among others, was also coach of the French national team and now works as a consultant for RMC Sport and La Chaine L’Equipe, wrote what he thinks, frankly, about Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel to the French website Cyclism’Actu.
In a 50-minute interview he discussed several topics related to cycling. And Guimard, as always, did not mince words when referring to the ambitions of Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel.
Tadej Pogacar could win Giro/Tour in 2024
“Tadej Pogacar is the best runner in the world and he is the only one of whom we can say, at least 70%, that he is capable of winning the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in 2024. He is 25 years old, which means which is in the period in which we are most mature and at the peak of our form”.
Guimard also expresses his opinion on the change in the Slovenian’s training and racing program, as he must leave several classics aside to dedicate himself to his main objective.
“He will also change the program a little, which could be motivating. And so we have to stop saying that no one has done this since 1998 (Marco Pantani). Are we sure that many were prepared to do something similar?
Can Remco Evenepoel win the Tour?
“Does he believe that? He responded to this question by saying that he expected to finish in the top 5. Would he have become the Belgian Gaudu (smile)?”
I’m sorry, but Remco Evenepoel has no right to talk like that. This calls into question what I said two, three or four years ago, he doesn’t really have the means to win a Grand Tour.”
“I think he’s a little unprepared. As I saw him in last year’s Vuelta a España, he can’t compete with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.
