"6.5 watts per kilo is not enough to become the favorite for the Vuelta a España" - Patrick Lefevere

Remco Evenepoel's climbing abilities have for several years been a topic of great important within the peloton and also of Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team, and Patrick Lefevere has had further comments regarding his young prospect.

In an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, Lefevere has talked about the Belgian team's young talent: "The data is a reference point for cyclists, but it doesn't change me. What are they for if you don't know the exact weight and don't take race tactics into account? I don't worry much about this," he said. 

This was taken on the context of Evenepoel's ascent at the Tour of Norway in which he was said to have averaged 6.5W/Kg for 30 minutes, numbers "which even Tadej Pogačar would not have done this year" Lefevere said at the time.

He has now drifted back on his confident stance, or at least reassured that the pressure would not be on Evenepoel at the Vuelta a España where he will be focusing on the overall classification. “Doing better than Pogacar means beating him in the race. 6.5 watts per kilo is not enough to become the favorite for the Vuelta a España," he pointed out. Evenepoel is set to return to competition at the Tour de Suisse this upcoming week where his climbing skills will be put to the test once again.