Evenepoel predicts 'hectic' first week of the Tour de France
Remco Evenepoel is keeping his options open. The double Olympic champion who also finished third overall at the 2024 Tour de France is realistic about his second attempt at the world's biggest race, telling reporters at Wednesday's press conference for his Soudal-Quick Step team that his main goal is "to close the gap to the two guys who finished ahead of me" last year.
That comment nods to the realities of modern stage racing, where there's Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, and then everyone else. But part of Evenepoel's hedge is based on the course, which features a tough and nervous first week with a number of uphill finishes. "We expect a hectic first week, very tricky and completely different from the previous edition," he said. While the parcours suits his strengths, he didn't exactly sound excited – "I can't say I'm looking forward to it, but we'll try to survive and hopefully we'll make it out of it without any injuries," he said.
Evenepoel also nodded to his long recovery from a December training crash, when he was doored by a driver in a van. In a sign that the team isn't putting all its hopes on Evenepoel, sprinter Tim Merlier will get his first Tour start in four years. The Belgian has 10 wins already this year, including two stages of the recent Baloise Belgium Tour. His ambitions start right up front. "The first day will be an important one for all the sprinters in the race, because it's a big opportunity to take the yellow jersey," he said. But Evenepoel remains the leader and he's targeting at least the same objectives as last year, when he won a stage and landed on the podium. "I'm not coming to the Tour just to ride around," he said.
