“Giro-Tour double realistic for Remco Evenepoel in 2025” – Has Tadej Pogacar changed the way GC contenders race?

Tadej Pogacar’s phenomenal achievement this year, winning the Giro-Tour double (the first since Marco Pantani in 1998) has sparked a shift in the ambitions of Grand Tour contenders. Pogacar’s victory at the World Championships in Zurich in September, completing the prestigious triple crown, further solidified his status as the best cyclist on the planet.

This newfound interest in the Giro-Tour double has caught the attention of other top riders, including Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard, who seem eager to attempt this challenging feat in 2025.

Patrick Lefevere, the team boss at Soudal Quick-Step, spoke about Evenepoel’s aspirations for next season in an interview with La Dernière Heure. Reflecting on Evenepoel’s potential future races, Lefevere shared, “Remco will definitely do San Remo and the Tour one day, but not now. Maybe only after he has achieved his big goal: winning the three Grand Tours. After that, we will see. The most important thing will be to keep an eye on Remco to keep enjoying himself.”

Previously, Lefevere had expressed a desire for Evenepoel to ‘discover’ races such as Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders in 2025. However, Evenepoel did not seem enthused by that idea. "A 300-kilometre race can be useful. But cycling has changed. The big guns no longer need Milan-San Remo as preparation. They train differently now."

The possibility of Evenepoel attempting the Giro-Tour double in 2025 was also discussed by Lefevere. He revealed that Evenepoel had initially considered this challenge for 2024 but was advised against it by his trainer. “Remco wanted that, but his trainer changed those plans. But it is realistic for 2025. Pogacar has shown that it is possible to win both in a row. Anyone who knows Remco knows that he gets motivation from that,” Lefevere added.

The idea of tackling both the Giro and the Tour has traditionally been avoided due to the short recovery period between the two events, with most General Classification contenders opting for the Tour or the more spread-out Giro and Vuelta combination. However, Pogacar’s success has reshaped these perceptions, inspiring riders like Evenepoel to consider pursuing this ambitious route.

With his eyes on attacking multiple grand tours, Evenepoel’s 2025 campaign could be one of his most exciting yet as he seeks to replicate Pogacar’s groundbreaking achievement.