At the presentation of the Crystal Bicycle, Remco Evenepoel admitted that he has not gotten into his clothes in recent months on and off the bicycle. "It was an unpleasant period."
Since the Tour of Spain, Remco Evenepoel has only ridden the Tour of Lombardy, but due to the buzzing merger issues, these were busy and unpleasant times for the winner of the Crystal Bike.
"I thought I would prepare quietly for Lombardy for 3 weeks, but that was not the case at all. It was certainly not optimal."
"Those rumors may not have just emerged, there must have been some truth to them. But it was difficult for me to say anything about it, because I knew nothing about it."
"It was an unpleasant period. You cycle with the Soudal-Quick Step jersey, but you don't know whether you will still be wearing that jersey next year. But, all's well that ends well."
"Frustrations and a bit of clashes"
For Evenepoel, the past year is clearly divided into two parts. Everything went optimally until the Giro, after his retirement there he had to improvise.
"I know myself: I need 100% preparation. I never had that after the Giro."
External concerns also played a role in why things never quite worked out, for example in the Vuelta. "There has always been a storm around me and the team. That storm has never subsided."
"That has meant that there have often been frustrations and some clashes in the past period. With a view to next year, the entire outside world should know this."
Because Evenepoel does not want to get stuck in frustration and is already looking ahead to his debut in the Tour. “Everything in the month of July,” he says bluntly.
With what purpose? "A stage win would be great. And then I want to see how long I can follow the two kings of the Tour, Vingegaard and Pogacar. Then we'll see where the ship ends up in Nice."
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