Remco Evenepoel looks back on an extremely successful season, but he also speaks of 2023. The big question is whether the rainbow jersey will be in the Tour de France next year.
“The ‘Tour de France’ mission will now be given priority. One day I want to win there too, that’s the ultimate dream. Which does not exclude an intermediate station in 2023. So far, the Giro d’Italia looks very nice,” said Evenepoel.
Team manager Patrick Lefevere will also have to take into account the wishes of sprinters Fabio Jakobsen and newcomer Tim Merlier.
“Of course I will have to take our two sprinters into account when choosing a Grand Tour. But actually we can divide it neatly,” Evenepoel believes. “You could say: me the Giro, Fabio (Jakobsen) the Tour, Tim (Merlier) the Vuelta.”
The Belgian prefers total leadership in a Grand Tour.
“Yes. I like that better. Otherwise you risk division. That also applies to a sprinter, who deserves a strong lead-out, at least two riders. Then the combination becomes difficult, doesn’t it? Fabio and I get along well and in a regular race I like to be part of his sprint train. But in a Grand Tour it is different.”
Evenepoel will only race one Grand Tour in 2023. Even if the World champion decides to contest the Giro in the spring. “Then it will be the Clasica San Sebastian, World Championships and Lombardia in the autumn. In the spring I will again ride a limited program, schedule training camps and work on climbing and time trialing. Actually, I can copy-paste my Vuelta preparation every year from now on. Because that has worked well.”
Lefevere said in July that he would rather see Evenepoel ride the Giro d’Italia in 2023, so that his young rider can debut in the Tour de France in 2024.
