On the first rest day of the Tour de France, Remco Evenepoel addressed the media with a calm and confident demeanor, reflecting on his performance and the Soudal Quick-Step team’s success so far.
Currently sitting third in the general classification, Evenepoel expressed satisfaction with his position and the team’s achievements.
“The balance is good. We’ve won three stages with the team, I’m third in the GC and still in contention for the prizes,” he stated, highlighting the squad’s impressive haul of victories in the opening week. “With the legs [Tim Merlier] has, I hope he can win more, maybe one, two, or even three stages.”
Evenepoel also took the opportunity to quash rumors about a potential move to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, which had been circulating in the press.
“I read a lot of things that are unfortunately not true,” he remarked, putting speculation to rest.
He confirmed having constructive discussions with Soudal Quick-Step’s CEO, Jurgen Foré, to address and clarify these rumors, reaffirming his commitment to his current team.
The Belgian star also shared a key observation from stage 10 that bolstered his optimism for the remainder of the race.
“When I attacked yesterday, they didn’t react,” Evenepoel noted, referring to the lack of response from key rivals Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. This moment, he believes, is a positive sign for his chances in the challenging stages ahead, as it suggests a potential tactical advantage.
“One day I will come to win the Tour. When I see the teams Visma and UAE, it’s fair to say they are stronger than mine.” Yet, he remained motivated, citing his recovery from a winter crash that left him with lingering shoulder pain: “I still have some pain in my shoulder, but you have to live with it, and now I enjoy every day on the bike.”
As the Tour de France 2025 resumes, Evenepoel’s focus remains sharp, with his sights set on maintaining his podium position and capitalizing on any opportunities to challenge for the yellow jersey.
