"I would still view it as a bit of a lost year" - Remco Evenepoel warned against riding Giro d'Italia next season
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel has made no secret of his desire to return to the Giro d'Italia as he targets a third attempt at winning the Maglia Rosa. With Tadej Pogacar's Tour de France dominance and a strong 2026 season deminstrating how to reach top shape, things seen to be lining up for a Mayo Giro journey.
However, the Red Bull - BORA Hansgrohe rider has been warned to think twice before going all-in on the Corsa Rosa in 2027 as a former Belgian rider pointed to one major reason for both him and cycling fans to root for him to return to the Tour and the knock-on effects of that meaning he'll have a classics campaign.
With Evenepoel's training-only approach to the Tour helping him find the perfect shape to compete in the general classification battle, Marc Sergeant points out that as Giro campaign could mean that the 26-year-old may feature much less in the Spring Classics - not to mention potentially not starting the Tour de France.
For Sergeant, he pointed out the Tour's two time trials as major possibilities for him to gain time on the rest of the overall contenders.
"In those two time trials in the Tour, I see him gaining two to three minutes on the competition," Sergeant told Het Nieuwsblad.
Remco Evenepoel
"How often are we going to see him in the classics?"
"And when you see how well he rode uphill in the second part of the Tour, it really won't be easy for the rest of the field to simply make up for that in the mountains. And if he chooses the Giro, how often are we going to see him in the classics?"
Pointing to the Red Bull rider's desire to race and fight for victories, Sergeant again suggested that the lack of one-day races in a warning to Evenepoel.
"Last year Remco was so good in the Tour because he put everything on the Tour after the classics and was able to prepare for two months. If he rides the Giro, he will only be able to do so by skipping the classics.
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"I don't think he will enjoy it much then. Cycling has already become so difficult, with all those preparations and altitude training camps. Someone like Remco wants to race and win races."
The former rider even went as far as to suggest that a Giro title without participating in the Classics would be an underwhelming season. He added: "Suppose he were to win the Giro and stand on the podium in the Tour, that would be fantastic. But the price he would have to pay for that is that we would barely see him in the spring.
"I, and many cycling enthusiasts with me, look forward to Evenepoel in the classics more than him starting the Giro 'invisible'. Winning the Giro is nice, but I would still view it as a bit of a lost year."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Tadej is a pretty great time trialist. he is no Remco, no one is, but Tadej has won 40% of his TTs and podiumed far more.mij30-10-2026
- As long as he stays healthy, he´ll be just fine :)Lukicinho30-10-2026
- as much as i like JV, i dont see him winning another tour as long as Pog is around, and even then, he might be past his prime vs the younger guys.Crashjames30-10-2026
- This is cause Visma isnt good enough and realize that they cant contest for the TDF anymore(they dont have the means) thats why they will transition to this indeed. And its the right call.miguel30-10-2026
- With this course, don't be surprised is Seixas wins it if Tadej doesn't close on the tt's. There are a lot of ifs, let see how the early season goes for all of them.awp30-10-2026
- That's true. Even one Tour win is a dream.awp30-10-2026
- As someone of non-Flemish background, the surname 'Lambrecht' does not stir happy memories
Rafionain-Glas30-10-2026 - This team is so smart with their signings. They know exactly who they are. What their limits are. And don’t pretend to be something they’re notmij30-10-2026
- I don’t think that’ll be the case at all. I think Remco will surely be some way ahead after 1st TT, and Tadej will go all out to thrash him in the mountains.Lozza30-10-2026
- Their team had a strategy of Tadej winning and del Toro being second of third. Tadej had to help him all along that route. However, it's clear those two guys are very close friends, so it's understandable. Del Toro is impressive too, this was his first Tour. He and Paul Seixas are going to be competitors throughout their careers and it's going to fun to watch.awp30-10-2026
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