“From now on, every time trial will be the most important day in a stage race for me,” said Remco Evenepoel (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl) after his recent overall victory in the Tour of the Algarve. In which stage races are you looking forward to Evenepoel in the near future? How do the time trials in those races suit him? And what other challenges await him this spring? Koen Pelgrim, Evenepoel’s coach, explains more.
Tirreno-Adriatico (7-13 maart)
- 1 time trial on day 1
- 13,8 km
- right
“Filippo Ganna is the most dangerous man on such a flat time trial course, but the world time trial champion does not participate in the Tirreno,” says coach Koen Pelgrim. “If Remco doesn’t encounter anything until the Tirreno, he has to finish close in that time trial.”
“Remco will also encounter Pogacar in the Tirreno, the biggest reference in stage races. It would be nice if Remco could make it difficult for Pogacar.”
The profile of the time trial in Tirreno-Adriatico
Tour of the Basque Country (4-9 April)
- 1 time trial on day 1
- 7,5 km
- hilly, with some strips up to 10 percent
“The short time trial in the Tour of the Basque Country is not super difficult. It is a lot of up and down and a lot of turning and turning. I have already seen heavier time trial rounds in the Basque Country,” says coach Pilgrim
“On paper, this is not the best time trial course for Remco. But it is a good goal to try to win that time trial.”
And what about the ranking? “The time trial will not be decisive. Remco can take a maximum of 10 to 20 seconds on certain competitors. There are mountain stages where much more will be played with time.”
The profile of the time trial in the Tour of the Basque Country
The climbing classics
Evenepoel can also be admired in the climbing classics this spring, including in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. “Remco is really looking forward to that,” says Pelgrim. “The course of the climbing classics has to suit him.”
“But we also have a lot of other riders for those races. Julian Alaphilippe is our leader for those races anyway.”
“Remco and Julian complement each other perfectly. For example, Remco can put pressure on the competition, so that Julian can save himself.”
Vuelta (19 August-11 September)
- 1 individual time trial (the 10th stage)
- 31,1 km
- right
“It is a very fast time trial, not technical and quite flat. After the coming stage races we will evaluate how realistic it is to put everything on the standings in the Vuelta.”
“The team time trial (23.2 km) in the Netherlands on the opening day will also be a good goal for Remco and the entire team.”
The profile of the time trial in the Vuelta
World Time Trial Championships in Australia (September 18)
- 37,6 km
- technical, but flat course
“If Remco continues to perform like this in time trial, the World Cup against the clock will certainly become an important goal,” says Pelgrim.
“He will not prepare for it very specifically, because the World Cup time trial will take place a week after the end of the Vuelta.”
“Remco can take his condition from the Vuelta to the World Cup, like Wout van Aert did last year after the Tour towards the Olympic Games.”
