“It’s very difficult to say I will win this Grand Tour" - Remco Evenepoel realises retaining Vuelta a Espana will be a challenge

All three current Grand Tour winners will be present at the startline of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana. Reigning Red Jersey Remco Evenepoel will be up against Giro d'Italia winner Primoz Roglic and Tour de France winner, Jonas Vingegaard as he looks to defend his crown.

“I’ve raced him a few times, not too many times,” Evenepoel said in his pre-Vuelta press conference of Vingegaard. “I think it’s only a good thing for the bunch, for cycling, for the Vuelta, for himself, for everybody. It’s always a big challenge when you see a big name like that at the start line. I’m happy that he’s here. With Jonas in the bunch, and then Primož Roglič, those two just always show that they are there, whatever the race. I’ll be comparing my level with their level."

Being up close and personal, battling it out with the reigning Maillot Jaune, Evenepoel is keen to learn from Vingegaard, with an eye towards the 2024 Tour de France. “You can steal with your eyes,” the 23-year-old smiled. “He knows how to win the Tour de France, so he probably also knows how to win this Vuelta. It’s a bit of trying to copy as much as possible and take it in my backpack into next year’s Tour."

“It’s very difficult to say I will win this Grand Tour, because a bad day is very easy to get. Becoming ill or sick is also pretty easy. Having a crash can happen at every second of every stage,” Evenepoel concludes. “It’s going to be a very high level in the bunch. But I think with the heat and the difficult course, you can also expect for some guys to get out of the mix pretty soon.”