Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step), present this Thursday at a press conference in Florence (Italy) where the Grand Départ will take place on Saturday, gave his opinion on the favorites of the Tour de France 2024 and spoke about his own ambitions before giving his prediction… on the 8th final of the Euro between France and Belgium (Monday 6 p.m.):
“(Asked about wearing an anti-Covid mask.) I think my Giro last year is the best example (he had abandoned after testing positive). So I don’t want to be in a second Giro here. (…)
Honestly, I think if Tadej (Pogacar) stays safe, he will still be unbeatable. We saw at the Giro that he was already super strong and he will be even stronger in this Tour de France. It will be very hard to beat him. And for myself, I will aim for this stage victory which will allow me to complete the trilogy (Editor’s note: Evenepoel has won stages in the Giro and the Vuelta but never in the Tour), it is the number one objective . I want to test myself as much as possible and try to finish as high as possible in the rankings, that’s the other objective, but without pressure or a real precise result on paper.
(…) I think the times suit me better than Primoz (Roglic), that’s for sure, because I beat him by more than forty seconds on a time somewhat similar to that of the Tour. But it’s true that Primoz, you always have to keep him in your head, count on him in the results, because he’s a super strong rider, one of the best riders in the grand tours in recent years. It is clear that he will be very close to the other two (Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard).
(…) My prediction for France – Belgium (Monday, 8th final of the Euro)? 4-0 for Belgium.
