04/07/2024

Cian Uijtdebroeks "more likely to win the yellow jersey than Remco Evenepoel" according to super agent Alex Carera

Remco Evenepoel is making his much anticipated Tour de France debut in 2024 and in credit of the Belgian, he has started very strongly, sitting second in the general classification after two stages, 45 seconds down on Tadej Pogacar.

With Evenepoel seen by many as Belgium's best hope to end the long wait for another Maillot Jaune, now 48 years since Lucien van Impe in 1976, the Soudal - Quick-Step leader is under considerable pressure from his home press. According to cycling super agent Alex Carera however, Evenepoel is not the best placed Belgian to win the Tour de France.

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“Without wanting to put pressure, but I have a lot of confidence in another Belgian talent: Cian Uijtdebroeks," the super agent explains in conversation with Het Nieuwsblad. "A guy who knows what he wants. I see him capable of winning Grand Tours in the long term. Honestly? I think he is more likely to win the yellow jersey in Paris than Remco Evenepoel. Evenepoel is an unparalleled one-day rider and a killer in short stage races. Granted, he also won the Vuelta, but that was a special edition. But the Tour, in a battle with all the top riders? I have my doubts. I am very curious to see how he will do in the coming weeks.”

As you may have guessed, Uijtdebroeks is a rider represented by Carera. If the Belgian could win the Tour de France, it would take the tally up to four Maillot Jaune winners to have been on the books of Carera. "I'll tell you my ultimate manager's dream. I'd like to win the Tour de France with five different riders. It worked with Vincenzo Nibali, Chris Froome and Tadej Pogacar, but I want five!" says the man himself.

"It proves that you are not a manager of flukes. That you do not accidentally have a Tour winner in your portfolio," explains Carera further. "If you succeed five times, it is because you know what you are doing, that you have your riders on board with your story and that your vision works. So two more to go.”