Remco Evenepoel is set to face heightened expectations as he prepares for a pivotal Tour de France campaign this year, following a successful yet challenging 2024 season. Last year, Evenepoel concluded his Tour debut with a commendable third-place finish, setting a high standard for this year’s performance as he seeks to overcome doubts regarding his form and that of his team., reports 24brussels.
During a remarkable 2024 season, the Belgian cyclist secured two Olympic gold medals and was crowned world champion in the time trial. Evenepoel also shone in the Tour de France, claiming the white jersey and marking Belgium’s first podium finish in the event since 2010.
This year, however, his prospects appear uncertain. Forced to miss the beginning of the season due to a severe training accident that resulted in multiple bone fractures, Evenepoel even contemplated ending his professional cycling career.
Long-term impact
The repercussions of his injury and the disrupted pre-season preparation were evident at the Critérium du Dauphiné, an event often viewed as a precursor to the Tour de France. The race served as a vital assessment of Evenepoel’s current fitness levels ahead of the major tour.
Despite departing the Dauphiné with mixed results, Evenepoel did demonstrate his exceptional time trial abilities, outpacing Jonas Vingegaard by 21 seconds and Tadej Pogacar by 49 seconds during stage 4. However, he struggled to keep pace with both rivals during the mountain stages, ultimately finishing fourth—over four minutes behind Pogacar.
“Evenepoel has no chance of winning the Tour de France,” stated former professional cyclist Jan Bakelants, expressing skepticism regarding Evenepoel’s prospects. “The gap to Vingegaard and Pogacar seems to be even bigger than last year.”
Team doubts
The concerns surrounding Evenepoel’s individual performance extend to his team, Soudal-Quick Step. Key support rider Mikel Landa is recovering from a serious crash sustained in the Giro d’Italia, while another major teammate, Louis Vervaeke, suffered a collarbone fracture during the Dauphiné, further hampering the team’s preparations.
The absence of these riders became apparent during Stage 7 of the Dauphiné, where Evenepoel found himself isolated at the front, while Pogacar and Vingegaard were surrounded by their teammates during the climb.
Nevertheless, there are glimmers of hope for Evenepoel. He marked his return from injury with a victory at the Brabantse Pijl in April and has demonstrated his continued dominance in time trial events, winning two races decisively this season. Furthermore, he improved his performance in the Dauphiné compared to last year, where he finished in seventh place.
As Evenepoel gears up for the Tour de France, his objectives seem clear: to secure victory in the time trial and the yellow jersey on day five, while maintaining contention against Vingegaard and Pogacar throughout the mountain stages. Achieving this could set the stage for another podium finish, although it appears unlikely that he will claim the yellow jersey this year.
