🇧🇪 Remco Evenepoel after seeing the #TDF2024 course: 🗣️ "There are specific events and championships for gravel racing. Why do they need to add such stages to a Grand Tour? I don't think that's necessary." (HLN)
Laurens de Plus refused but believes he will race with Remco Evenepoel in the future: "One day it will happen that we will race together in a team, but not yet"
CyclingSaturday, 04 November 2023 at 15:10
Laurens de Plus is one of the best and most reliable climbing domestiques in the peloton. He surged back to his best level this year and was a key part of INEOS Grenadiers' block before and during the Giro d'Italia and renewed with the team, despite the efforts of Soudal - Quick-Step to sign him.
“I am very pleased with that. Of course I worked for it too. Everyone knows what place I have within the team and what qualities I add. I fit in well there and hopefully I can become a permanent fixture for the Grand Tours," de Plus shared in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. "This will be the main focus in the coming years. I would like to ride several Grand Tours a year. Maybe not all three like Sepp Kuss, but I would like to have two on my program every year.”
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De Plus is a rider with a passion for the Grand Tours and he's recently said that he wants to help the British team to win Grand Tours, whether that is with Geraint Thomas as almost happened in May, Carlos Rodríguez or other figures. A new three-year contract is sure to see the Belgian in action quite a lot more throughout three weeks and could be a key figure to support new signings as well - in the past, Evenepoel himself was linked to INEOS but that is ultimately an unlikely move for the time being.
“After the Giro it became clear quite quickly," he said of his agreement with the British team. "The handshake was already there somewhere in mid-June. I don't remember exactly whether I signed just before or after I left the Vuelta. I feel so good in the team that I didn't feel like leaving. INEOS is my third team. I receive the ideal support as a person and as an athlete. Everything is reasoned and how you feel as a person comes first. This seems like a promotional talk, but it's true. Things are sometimes different for other teams when injuries occur.”
However he is aware of the very specific interest of Remco Evenepoel in having de Plus in his mountain block. “I knew about the interest and I thought about it, but I quickly indicated that I preferred to stay with Ineos," he says. The time-trial World Champion continues to seek more support in the mountains as he looks to contest all Grand Tours, and have at least a competitive team against the likes of Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates.
"Did Remco try to bring me in? Anyway, but everyone charts their own path. I feel at my best with this team. I had enjoyed myself so much in the Giro that my decision was made quite quickly. Remco called and texted me regularly. It was also discussed sometimes when we went for coffee together. One day it will happen that we will race together in a team, but not yet.”
“I returned from a week's holiday in Dubai this week and I was eager to start training again. The fire is burning. I started it straight away on Thursday, despite storm Ciaran," he says of his training towards 2024. The 28-year old is eager to begin racing in a few months.
"Although, just to be on the safe side, I turned back in time. A week earlier than usual. Normally I start around mid-November, but I still have some catching up to do compared to the rest and I might want to start my season a little earlier.”
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- Thanks Dadmobk22-12-2024
- Hard to believe with the advancment of modern medicine he can not find a cause for this.frieders321-12-2024
- You continue to platform these two cheats. With that in mind I can no longer use your site. I know my leaving means little, but, sometimes you have to take a stand. See ya!DJ21-12-2024
- Look at what Froome’s won since his last TdF, stop denying there is still more than possible one outcome to the future.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Bruyneel understands nothing about clean competition.Sweep21-12-2024
- Exactly. Remco won 3 WT races/stages last year compared to Pogocar's 19. Remco's single stage win in last years TdF earned him a meager 12 seconds over Pogocar who shellac'd him by 9 minutes in GC.Sweep21-12-2024
- Fortunately and as you point out, more than one strategy is possible and worth trying and I’m sure all concerned riders are well informed and counselled on this subject and don’t need such basic personal advice through media from an outsider.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- The main SPOTY award is "decided" by public vote but the BBC "expert panel" decide who you can choose from, that choice has an equal split of genders and is focussed on the sports BBC show and a disabled athlete. Oh yea the ubiquitous "Pub Games" candidate there too, Darts and Snooker are not sports. The other awards are decided by the "Expert Panel" again it's about the sports BBC show, cycling has had it. Cav got his for his years and achievements in the sport, not just that 35th TDF win. Unless the BBC get access to Pro Cycling it will never feature "adequately" on SPOTYslappers6621-12-2024
- Ahhh..... you have to understand the "strange" diversity concepts of the BBCslappers6621-12-2024
- Avoiding him is a good strategy, you get more wins and then you can compete in the TDF relatively relaxed. Pit yourself against Pogi and not only there will be no wins, it will be considerable mental setbackabstractengineer21-12-2024