Remco Evenepoel he goes into hiding just two days before the departure of the Tour de France 2024. For the captain of the Soudal-QuickStep this will be the long-awaited debut at the French Grand Tour, but despite this he tries to stay calm and not get overwhelmed by emotions, especially after a troubled start to the season. “I try to stay as calm as possibleI try to make the best of the rest days that remain to save energy for the big day – said the 24-year-old Belgian in an interview with Rtbf – At the moment I don’t feel anything special. I remain calm about what is happening around us, I think that is one of the qualities I have.”
Despite the terrible crash at the Tour of the Basque Country in April, Evenepoel is very clear about his goals in this Tour de France, but says he doesn’t have too many hopes of a final podium. “The dream has not changed: I’m here to win a stagethis is the number one objective – reveals the young climber and timer – As for the general classification, we hope to get a Top5 if everything goes well. If there are some problems, I think we have to be realistic and hope for a Top 10 and not dream too big.”
Since his condition is not yet 100%, as we could see at the Giro del Dauphiné, the first week will be crucial, starting on Saturday from Florence. “The objective in the first week will above all be to finish it without problems and without wasting time, and also doing a good job during the time trial of the seventh stage, and staying away from problems in the ninth stage, the dirt road stage. The first week will be beautiful with some difficult stages, it could allow me to stay calm, follow and see how this Tour de France goes. My level has improved. I needed it, otherwise I wouldn’t have had a good approach. I’m happy that I was able to take a small step forward, I did everything I wanted and had to do.”
At his side Evenepoel will have the best possible formation, even if two important climbers such as the Italians Fausto Masnada and above all the trusty Mattia Cattaneo are missing, who almost surprisingly were not called up by Soudal-QuickStep. “Mattia Cattaneo had some problems, because otherwise he would have been part of the selection, but this remains the only case. His absence is unfortunate because he is a true warrior for the Tour de France where he is always very strong and has great experience. Besides him we have the best possible team.”
The Tour de France is not the only goal for the young Belgian, who has also set his sights on the time trial of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will take place a few weeks after the end of the Grande Boucle. “The Olympics are in my head, but I have to divide the month of July into two parts. That of the Tour de France and that of the Olympics. At the moment my mind is only on the Tour. Once that’s over, I’ll be able to focus on the Olympics very quickly”Evenepoel concluded.
The article Tour de France 2024, Remco Evenepoel flies low on the eve of the presentation: “If all goes well I can hope for a Top5” was published first on https://cyclingpro.net/spaziociclismo.
