With 31-year-old Czech climber, Jan Hirt the only real reinforcement brought in by Quick-Step, Schotte believes the likes of
Jumbo-Visma and
UAE Team Emirates will have too much strength in depth. "Quick Step is not ready for that yet,
Patrick Lefevere will be the first to confirm that," he says. "Basically the same guys as in the Vuelta: Van Wilder, Serry, Vervaeke... In the Tour they would then have to compete against round teams such as those of Jumbo-Visma or UAE, that is too early."
Evenepoel also has a score to settle with the Giro after a crash on stage 17 of the 2021 edition saw him exit the race and lose a chance at his first-ever top 10 finish at a Grand Tour. "Do not underestimate the motivation of a top athlete to take revenge after a failure - which the Giro of 2021 was in his eyes" Schotte concludes.