Eddy Merckx urges Evenepoel to ride Giro d'Italia in 2023: "It's better for him at this point in his career"

Remco Evenepoel's decisions for the Grand Tours are yet to be taken for the 2023 season, but all signs point towards a return to the Giro d'Italia too. Eddy Merckx, with whom he is still often compared to, agrees with that choice.

“He’s made a lot of progress in these last few months: Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Vuelta, the World Championships. Now I’d advise him to do the Giro, it's better for him at this point in his career," Merckx told Gazzetta dello Sport. 2022 saw Evenepoel win the Vuelta a Espana, proving his worth and skills as a Grand Tour rider, who will be taken as a serious threat for all others.

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Asked if his compatriot could take a win at the Giro aswell, the 'Cannibal' responded: "That depends on how strong the others are. But Evenepoel has proved in these last few months that he’s a champion. He’s evolved: he’s won the Vuelta, a Grand Tour. And he did it by even attacking on the steepest slopes."

Having proven also to have worked on some of his weak points such as the steep climbs, the descents and even the way he handles the extreme media attention, he's finished the year a much more complete rider. The Giro d'Italia route will see almost 70 kilometer of time-trials, however simultaneously an incredibly hard final week with four high-mountain stages and summit finishes.

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“The weather will also be different, with the chance of snow and cold," Merckx argues. "But Evenepoel will have to put himself to the test. It’s the only way he will get to know his limits. You also learn from your defeats.”

The Tour de France presentation will take place this 27th of October and will be a big step towards the Belgian's planning of the upcoming season.