Starting without much certainty on the Grande Boucle, the Belgian prodigy should remain in the shadow of the Pogacar-Vingegaard duel. Unless he surprises his people again.

Remco Evenepoel is a man of blows. A young man of big shots, even. Already a double world champion (road race in 2022, time trial in 2023), crowned in the Vuelta (2022), double crowned in a Monument (Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2022 and 2023)… we need no introduction the latest phenomenon of Belgian cycling. So it’s obviously an event to see him start the Tour de France (June 29-July 21) for the first time. For the public, as for him, moreover.

«Running the Tour de France is the dream of every child who falls in love with cycling, already enjoying the 24-year-old runner. It’s a moment I’ve dreamed of since my first laps of the wheel and I’m very excited to take the start for the first time with this great team.” A team (Quick-Step-Alpha Vinyl) where he will be orphaned by Julian Alaphilippe, for whom he had campaigned, but where he will be surrounded by a close guard of compatriots, including the road captain Yves Lampaert, and the experienced climber Mikel Landa. An anything but haphazard presence from the Basque, so much so that training director Tom Steels took care to point out that the team had something “to play overall both with Remco and with Mikel» So, what will Remco Evenepoel really play?

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«The underdog role suits him perfectly to begin withnotes Franck Alaphilippe, cousin and coach of Julian Alaphilippe, and former coach of the Belgian team. This will allow him to approach the race with less pressure..” The native of Schepdaal, an attraction in his own right, will still be eagerly awaited for this particular 2024 edition. Some were also quick to note the presence of two times, including a final between Monaco and Nice, as if to finally attract the Belgian. “Of course, I hope to have a good Tour and have nice results, but let’s not forget that these are my debut in this race which is as beautiful as it is difficult.», notes the world champion in the specialty, who will show off his iridescent jersey in Nice on July 21.

Violent fall in April

Unless the jersey is yellow? Accustomed like all great runners to distinctive jerseys, the one who has already worn the pink of the Giro (2022), the red of the Vuelta (2022) could well enjoy a few days in yellow after a first ride in the mountains from Galibier towards Valloire (4th stage), and especially on the evening of Friday July 5, scene of the first time trial between Nuits-Saint-Georges and Gevrey-Chambertin (25 km, 7th stage).

«It’s not necessarily an advantage to have a time so early, warns Franck Alaphilippe. Knowing him, he will do everything to the fullest, but let’s not forget that it’s much more complicated behind. This time so early in the race is a bit of a double-edged sword.” Especially since the competition, embodied by the extraterrestrials Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, without forgetting Primoz Roglic, Olympic time trial champion in Tokyo, are not exactly rounds in the exercise. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

A competition with whom he shares the misfortune of a preparation disrupted by a violent fall at the beginning of April, during the Tour of the Basque Country. If the unknown remains about the outgoing double winner Vingegaard, the most violently affected and who will resume competition with the Tour, the Belgian was treated more quickly before returning to training, on the occasion of an altitude training course, necessary to make up the difference that separates him from the best in the mountains. What followed was a mixed first participation in the Critérium du Dauphiné (7th), where he remained at a distance from Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) despite his stage victory on… the time trial, obviously. “He finished a little just after the Dauphiné, notes the former coach of Patrick Lefévère’s training. This is not necessarily bad news, because he is now aware of his shortcomings.»

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Workaholic

A runner with a volcanic temperament, Evenepoel is no less a methodical runner. A workaholic, he left to drag his imposing thighs on the roads of France to reconnoiter the Tour route. As he did the day after Christmas, where he was seen in Haute-Marne, around Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises (finish of the 8th stage) and Troyes, scene of the tricky stage known as “the white paths” (9th stage).

The Belgian experienced the joys of the Yellow Jersey for the first time during the Critérium du Dauphiné. A taste of July? THOMAS SAMSON / AFP

Obligatory recognition for the phenomenon… which had never been driven in France before 2024. “The years go by, so it’s the right time for him to discover the Tourassures Franck Alaphilippe. So far, he has managed his career well in a methodical, step-by-step manner. He had a good approach by soaking up the ASO races (Paris-Nice and Critérium du Dauphiné) before entering the Tour.»

Not necessarily successful in these two events, where he was beaten each time by the American Matteo Jorgenson, who will be part of the armada around Vingegaard, Evenepoel arrives without real certainties on the starting line in Florence this Saturday. Without really proven objectives, either. “The idea is to discover the race, take it day by day and see where it will take us», swears the accustomed to outbursts, not without a hint of tongue in cheek. As if to better blur the lines.

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