"He’s an exceptional talent, and he can perform even at 85 percent" - Remco Evenepoel can win 2025 Tour de France despite nightmare winter preparation insist Quick-Step

Remco Evenepoel had a very impressive Tour de France debut last summer, taking home a stage win and best of the rest behind Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard in the general classification. Following his training disaster crash in December though, much is still uncertain in regards to Evenepoel's route to the 2025 Tour de France.

“It’s not the ideal way back into the season, but you have to deal with it,” explains Soudal - Quick-Step sports director Tom Steels in conversation with Velo about what Evenepoel's early season will look like following his crash. “It’s really a buildup from zero. You have to take it easy with a shoulder. That takes time, at least a few months, to get back and be ready again.”

With numerous broken bones, including in his hand, his ribs and even his shoulder blade, Evenepoel has spent almost the entire winter off-bike. A real disaster given that most experts felt the Belgian needed to make big gains this winter in order to challenge the Pogacar - Vingegaard duopoly at the Tour de France in 2025. “If this had happened in April or June, the Tour would be almost impossible,” Steels assesses. “The shoulder is tricky and it needs time to heal. The shoulders carry a lot of weight because it’s the main point of contact with the bike.”

“If you rush it, you always risk making it worse. An injury like this takes four to six weeks at least,” continues the DS. “Of course he’s an exceptional talent, and he can perform even at 85 percent. That’s his advantage. But on the other hand, to compete with the best, you have to be 100 percent, and that takes time.”

The point remains though, that Steels, Soudal - Quick-Step and even Evenepoel himself truly believe a Maillot Jaune victory at the Tour de France is possible. “Yeah, for sure. That’s the big lesson from last year is that Remco can win," says Steels defiantly. “I think he has the qualities, he has the mindset for it. He can perform those three weeks. Even when it was going tough, he has the mind to push through it. For him to stay strong for three weeks, that’s what you need to win a Tour. And as a team that’s also motivating for his teammates. Last year, he was 100 percent ready, but it was still his first Tour. He adapted incredibly fast. He’s made for it. Now, we’re trying to get the best out of him year by year.”

Just how can Evenepoel, even at 100%, take the fight to Pogacar and Vingegaard though? "You always look at your own strength. He has a strong weapon in the in the time trials and on the climbing is also one of the best in the world," analyses Steels. “And first, do you have the qualities to follow? There was a question before. Last year he confirmed that he has the qualities to win the Tour. Now the question is, do you have the qualities to make a difference?"

According to Steels, the answer is an emphatic yes in Evenepoel's regard. “Maybe at some point, you’re also going to try to race differently. Last year was about learning the Tour and racing for the podium. Now if it’s a good day and you feel good, then you have to go for it,” he concludes. “The Tour starts in the north. I don’t say it’s easy racing in the Tour this year, but it’s a little bit different than last year where you had to be really on top of your toes from day one. He proved last year that he belongs at this level. Now, we just need time to make sure he gets there in top form.”