Remco Evenepoel has achieved everything that he could in the time-trials. Olympic, World, European and national champion alongside TT victories in all Grand Tours, it's time for new goals. The Tour de France is an obvious one after he thrived in this year's edition, but he will also make his debut in the Tour of Flanders and Milano-Sanremo next season!
This is not a rumour but rather a vocal confirmation from none other than Soudal - Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere: "The idea is for Remco to go to Milan-Sanremo and also to the Tour of Flanders in 2025," Lefevere said in words to DH. This marks a major step in Evenepoel's career, who has thus far done very well in the time-trials, hilly classics and is seemingly making successful transformation into an absolute world-class Grand Tour rider, only being beaten by Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard at the Tour de France. Perhaps due to inspiration from Tadej Pogacar's choices, or maybe just the natural evolution for the Belgian, he will be making his debut in big races next year that he could target in the future.
This year, the Tour of Britain and Il Lombardia are still in his schedule, despite the impressive summer that he's been having.
Having Pogacar win the Tour of Flanders and come close to doing the same in Sanremo is also evidence that the spring classics are now no longer races to be battled exclusively between the traditional specialists. Flanders, specially, is not mostly decided on the short climbs. Evenepoel, twice a winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, could do very well in them, specially as Flanders becomes less tactical and more a matter of climbing legs in recent years.
"In addition, he should participate in one of Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico and also take part in one of the Northern Classics that precede the Ronde. It could be the Dwars door Vlaanderen or the E3 Harelbeke. Then, he will be back at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, before doing the Tour de France," Lefevere pointed out as the likely schedule of the World and Olympic time-trial champion for the upcoming season.
"Honestly, I expected it (the Olympic title he achieved this Saturday, ed.). He is someone who leaves nothing to chance. After the podium at the Tour, he had little time left at the party we had organized as a team in Antibes and he immediately started training again. He has a perfect lifestyle," Lefevere argues. "And I think he could be one of the favorites for the road race of the Games".
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