"I have never climbed as well as now" - Remco Evenepoel

At the start of his debut Vuelta a Espana, Remco Evenepoel is seen by some as a big contender for the overall classification, and by others as a stage hunter. His presence will be of a wildcard, going a bit into the unknown throughout the three weeks.

"But first the focus is on tomorrow's team time trial. It will be important not to lose time there," Evenepoel told reporters ahead of the Vuelta in a press conference. "Winning the team time trial would be a dream start. Then a lot of pressure will immediately fall off our shoulders".

Quick-Step will be looking to protect and help Remco Evenepoel in a stint for the overall classification, however they will also be on the hunt for stages with him and World champion Julian Alaphilippe mainly. It will be an interesting race for the Belgian team, which starts with a favourite role today in the team time-trial in Utrecht.

Evenepoel will however be eyeing the race in it's long-term, but has admitted that he will be chasing stage wins - which in any case, would only support his GC ambitions simultaneously. "I do indeed start with a question mark at the Vuelta. But I would like to convert that question mark into an exclamation mark," he said. 

"It comes down to being on my guard for 21 days. Of course, some days may not go as well as others. We will go for it every day with the team," Evenepoel added. The Vuelta will be a very tough route, however with several stages that will suit the Belgian. The race is not shy of the high mountains however, with the 15th stage to Sierra Nevada being a day many will be fearing.

"From the time trial in Alicante (stage 10) there will be a full race for the classification," Evenepoel noted. The GC fight will begin before that, with three summit finishes, a team time-trial and at least two more hilly stages that can see differences in the opening week alone.