"I will put myself in the lead-out of Fabio" - Fabio Jakobsen gets premium leadout in Remco Evenepoel at Vuelta a San Juan

On the eve of the Vuelta a San Juan it becomes clear what Soudal - Quick-Step's plan will be for the Vuelta a San Juan. As was the case at the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana and the Volta ao Algarve last year, Remco Evenepoel will be doing leadout work for Fabio Jakobsen.

“I feel quite relaxed. I've had enough time to acclimatize and soak up some of the Argentinian atmosphere. It is high time to start again. I am looking forward to my year in the rainbow jersey," Evenepoel shared with Het Laatste Nieuws.

The Belgian is the man to beat for the overall classification, however he comes to the Argentinian race without pressure, and simultaneously looking to help his teammates succeed. “On the Alto Colorado in the fifth stage I will see if anything is possible," he says, on the day he'll have to face the likes of Egan Bernal, Daniel Martínez and Miguel Ángel López. 

"In the other stages I will put myself in the lead-out of Fabio [Jakobsen], as third man behind Morkov and Lampaert. From kilometer four or five, to kilometer one. A long head turn, go with the flow and then we'll see what happens. I have no pressure to perform," he confirms.

“That's when I found that comparison about it. Now we are both world champions and maybe it fits better, haha," Evenepoel answered when asked about the comparison with Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi. He was recently invited to a Boca Juniors game where he was honoured and received a jersey on the pitch.

“Of course that was very nice. Argentines are naturally very euphoric and fiery. It is always nice to feel the atmosphere and motivation here in this country. It remains a very special way to deal with cycling. You notice that it makes people very happy that we are all here," he concluded.