Michel Wuyts believes Remco Evenepoel will be better off to "let INEOS carry the weight of the course" and not win the opening time-trial of the Giro d'Italia

With the opening stage of the 2023 Giro d'Italia being a time-trial, could Remco Evenepoel take an immediate Maglia Rosa? According to Michel Wuyts he would be better off if he didn't.

"It's a difficult balancing act," Wuyts explains on the Wuyts & Vlaeminck podcast for Het Laatste Nieuws. “He is supposed to gain time on his competitors. Of course, you like to see a compatriot win, but something tells me: it would be a victory if Filippo Ganna wins the time-trial. Then let INEOS carry the weight of the course for the first four or five days."

It's certainly an understandable point of view. To attempt to hold the race lead throughout the entire three-week stage-race would be an immense challenge for Evenepoel and his Soudal - Quick-Step team. "Since 2016 the Giro has been the grand tour of the major upheavals in the final week and they were completely unexpected and all had to do with the isolation of the leaders" says Wuyts. 

His podcast partner Jan Bakelants however doesn't seem to agree. "On a similar course, Roglic won the prologue well ahead of Remco. It would be interesting if Roglic wins the time trial and Remco gets a bit of pressure. Because it is a scenario that we do not really take into account," he explains before Wuyts jumps back in with "I maintain that the most interesting opening is that Ganna wins the time trial."