"It's not a matter of urgency here" - Quick-Step ease Evenepoel back into competition at the Tour of Britain
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel announced his transfer to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe right at the start of August following the end of the Tour de France, something that was already expected, and the Belgian in the meantime had gone to Livigno to train at altitude in preparation for the World Championships. With the steam blown off, the Olympic Champion now returns to competition at the Tour of Britain.
"It's not a matter of urgency here. It's important to have a good week and that he can leave here in better shape than when he arrived. He was able to complete a good training camp in Livigno and do everything he needed to do," DS Klaas Lodewyck said ahead of the British race to Sporza.
The Belgian is one of the few men's elite riders who are putting a lot of focus on the World Championships, where he will be the main favourite for the time-trial and one of the few rivals for Tadej Pogacar in the road race. Here at the Tour of Britain, there won't be much pressure for a result - like last year - but instead to get racing rhythm, and test his form in the final two Welsh stages.
"He'll definitely try to give it his all. The first two days will be quite intense. The weather isn't the best, and the course will demand a lot from his fitness level, and he'll have to be attentive all day. That will reveal a lot about what's possible this week. But getting a stage is always nice."
Quick-Step and Evenepoel look to end partnership on a high
Evenepoel's form is one of the biggest questions this week in Great Britain, and his presence definitely elevates the event to a higher level. Evenepoel is amongst the big contenders for the overall win alongside the likes of Thymen Arensman, Oscar Onley and Romain Grégoire.
"Since his crash, it's always been a rush. The Tour didn't go as planned for various reasons. Afterward, he took the time and rest to get better and be healthy. It's important now to turn things around and look ahead to the great races still on his schedule. Let's hope the past few weeks will bring something. We're going to try to grab what's still available this season."
But the team can afford to give opportunities to other riders, a strong lineup featuring Ethan Hayter, Ilan van Wilder, Casper Pedersen, Luke Lamperti and Martin Svrcek. "They're all strong riders. Everyone can take their chance; we'll try to score every day, and then we'll see if a general classification comes along with it."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
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- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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