Remco Evenepoel, appears to show no concerns about the controversial 9th stage of the 2024 Tour de France, a route that includes more than thirty kilometers of gravel roads. According to him, “it seems more difficult than it really is”, after carrying out a secret training session there, as reported by Giro do Ciclismo .
Controversy in the ninth stage in Troyes
The presentation of the route for the 2024 Tour has caused much controversy, particularly regarding the ninth stage to Troyes, which includes 32km of gravel. Recently, Evenepoel went to explore this stage, together with the individual Time Trial that will take place two days earlier.
The cyclist sees the gravel stage without any problems
It is worth noting that Evenepoel tends to have firm opinions and does not have good memories of unpaved roads in Grand Tours, since the 2021 Giro, when he lost 2 minutes to leader Egan Bernal. However, he sees no problems in the gravel stage of the Tour.
“To the outside world it looks stranger than it really is,” Evenepoel said at a digital press conference for his team, Soudal QuickStep.
“The stage is not that technical. Gravel sectors are not dangerous. This is something everyone should know: yes, it’s gravel, but it’s nothing special. Obviously, we have to be careful not to waste time, but I think it’s a beautiful step. I really enjoyed the recognition.”
Tour de France debut
Evenepoel will make his Tour de France debut on June 29 in the Italian city of Florence and called “the final podium in Nice” his biggest goal for 2024. “It would be a dream come true. The place doesn’t matter, just being on the podium in Nice.”
Although Evenepoel does not seem concerned about the gravel stage of the Tour de France, there are those who argue that unpaved roads, in a road cycling competition, can pose unnecessary risks to cyclists.