"If Remco can stay with Pogacar & Vingegaard here, then we’re aiming for more than just 3rd in Paris" - Quick-Step DS ready for the Dauphine's high mountains

Starting this Friday, the 2025 Criterium du Dauphine heads into the high mountains. For the current Maillot Jaune Remco Evenepoel, it's the perfect chance to send a message to his rivals ahead of the upcoming Tour de France.

Starting Friday's stage with 16 seconds advantage over Jonas Vingegaard and 38 seconds on Tadej Pogacar, Soudal - Quick-Step DS Klaas Lodewyck is well aware what a strong weekend performance could mean for Evenepoel. "Maybe by Sunday evening we'll be able to say that we're aiming a little higher than we did last year," Lodewyck explains in conversation with HLN. "After this weekend, you'll know what mindset you need going into the Tour. If Remco can stay with Pogacar and Vingegaard here, then we’re aiming for more than just third place in Paris. That’s simply being realistic."

Last year, Evenepoel took a very creditable podium on his Tour de France debut. The Belgian was somewhat in a league of his own though in the final GC, clearly better than the rest of the podium contenders, but not on the same level as the Maillot Jaune fighting Pogacar and Vingegaard. That's why signs of improvement this weekend could be so important.

“If you feel this weekend that you're in the mix, and you know Remco can still improve during his final training camp, then you can approach the Tour with a slightly different strategy," Lodewyck says. "Last year, we started with the sense that the competition was just a bit out of our reach. Remco only pushed a little when Pogacar and Vingegaard attacked — he quickly shifted focus to securing third place. By Sunday evening, we’ll know whether we can tweak that approach. If not, we’ll once again aim for the podium.”

"His weight is already where it needs to be, and you can see it paying off immediately in his climbing. Last year, we weren’t where we wanted to be at this stage. After the Dauphiné, we still had to invest a lot of energy in getting his weight down ahead of the Tour," Lodewyck adds in conclusion. "That’s not the case now, and that means you have a bit more energy left for other things. You can train at a higher intensity, for instance, or you can simply conserve more energy for the Tour itself — which can make a subtle but meaningful difference. I definitely think he’s taken a step forward in the mountains."