Even seven months away from his massive goal for 2026, Remco Evenepoel is rising in confidence for the Tour de France, expressing that ‘Sure’, he can certainly win it forward of Tadej Pogačar following his transfer to Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
In response to Sporza, Evenepoel was barely reluctant about his assertion of intent, however backed it up by explaining the trail he must observe to reach on the Tour’s begin on July 4 in Barcelona, having had his preparations interrupted by crashes and accidents the previous two seasons.
“If every part continues to go properly and if I can have a very good winter, good coaching camps and the factors I am on the lookout for within the races within the spring,” Evenepoel advised Flemish sports activities broadcaster Sporza.
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“If I can present in Catalonia that I’m there to win, like I used to be in 2023, for instance, heading into the Giro, then I positively suppose I can attain that degree.
“Additionally, with the assist I’ve right here, the assist and the teammates who’re right here, all of the scientific points concerned, I believe there’s nonetheless numerous room for enchancment.”
Understanding full properly that Pogačar, and certainly Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), are the 2 essential rivals he should beat – having completed third behind them on the rostrum of his debut Tour in 2024 – Evenepoel is trying to enhance on the highest intensities.
“Your basis must be there earlier than you possibly can work on these high-intensity exercises, the actual VO2 max exercises. That is the place I can enhance probably the most,” mentioned Evenepoel.
“It additionally is sensible: if Tadej assaults, I can sustain for some time, however not for too lengthy. That is what I’ve to work on now. After all, that is straightforward to say, however I’ve discovered to take pleasure in coaching extra once more.”
“It took a very long time to do this as a result of I used to be too far behind, however now I can prepare arduous once more, and that is what you want to have the ability to push your self past your limits.”
A serious crash at Itzulia Basque Nation in 2024 and a December coaching crash final season are what have derailed the right method for the Olympic champion. On each events, he needed to rebuild from a number of damaged bones again as much as kind, as an alternative of having the ability to work on fine-tuning the marginal features that might see him shut the hole.
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“I wish to be higher than him – [Pogačar]. That is very troublesome; everyone knows that. However that is why I got here right here. To take these steps. To go for it, on it and over it,” he added.
“That can take numerous effort, however I am very motivated, and I actually wanted this new step to fully break via a ceiling. I hope to have the ability to growth this yr.”
Come July, and he will not have management all to himself as he did at Soudal-QuickStep, with rising German star and third-place finisher from the latest Tour, Florian Lipowitz, additionally heading to biking’s largest race in pursuit of the yellow jersey.
Group chief of sports activities Zak Dempster mentioned it was a ‘no-brainer’ to have the pair compete alongside one another, and Evenepoel has had his say on how they could mix their contrasting types of driving.
“If we go along with a plan, we simply have to consider the advantages. Florian and I are each very bold, however we’re two completely different riders,” defined Evenepoel.
“I am extra explosive; Florian has to get going like a diesel. We’re polar opposites, and collectively that may solely work out properly. We have to complement one another and never work towards one another to realize the objective of this staff: to win the Tour sooner or later.”
