No concerns for Quick-Step as Evenepoel distant from Tour de France form - "This is the same story as last year in the Dauphiné"

Soudal - Quick-Step are having Remco Evenepoel race their first stage-race of the season at the Tour de Romandie and throughout the whole week it's been clear that the Olympic Champion has not been under pressure. After timing their preparation for the Tour de France perfectly last year, the Belgian team are not concerned that he is not having his best climbing legs in Switzerland.

Yesterday on the queen stage to Thyon, he stayed pacing William Junior Lecerf, with the duo finishing 1:29 minutes behind stage winner Lenny Martínez and likely race winner João Almeida. But this neither came as a surprise or a disappointment for Quick-Step.

“This was taken into account, yes. We all knew within the team that this was almost mission impossible," team DS Klaas Lodewyck shared with Het Nieuwsblad following the stage. "When I saw that Remco and Junior were together, I knew: they are just going to ride up as hard as possible. They did that well and caught up with many other riders. That must have done well for the head.”

Last year at the Criterium du Dauphiné Evenepoel showed good form in the time-trials, but in the high mountains he struggled to match the best. This seems to resemble very well his current form, now still without the specific preparation and likely the desired weight to perform in that terrain.

“This is the same story as last year in the Dauphiné. When guys like Almeida and Martinez are in top condition, there is little you can do if you are not yourself," Lodewyck continues. "I thought it was wise of Remco to find his own pace and take care of Junior.”

In the final time-trial the rainbow jersey will indeed be the biggest contender for victory, however the team is thinking more about the long-term preparation for his Grand Boucle return.