I really don't see the added value of this debate one week after the start of the season...
Quick Step will probably have this discussion the week before the race but before that :
- They'll have a better view on the level of Remco and Julian based on Tirreno and Basque country
- They'll be able to experiment their Remco-attacks-Julian-controls strategy during la Fleche Wallone
Also Julian will definitively be
the protected rider since the team doesn't know anything about Remco's capacity to perform on 230+km races. He only finished 3 races above 230km in his career, all in 2021, without convincing results. We can argue that 2021 was a transition year but still you need some guarantees to put a 22yo rider as leader on a monument.
Until then Remco has 5 races to convince his team and Julian that he has the engine to win a race like LBL.
And if it's the case, Julian can only benefit from it:
- If Remco goes alone, Julian can follow his opponents
- If an opponent attacks, Remco can follow without relaying and then counter
- If they're both part of a very select group without the fast guys, Remco can make sure the fast guys never come back