Patrick Lefevere still unsure of Soudal Quick-Step's Giro d'Italia lineup: "I don't have the selection in mind yet"

With Soudal - Quick-Step not having enjoyed the best of starts to 2023 a lot will ride on the potential success of Remco Evenepoel at the upcoming Giro d'Italia. Choosing the Belgian's support riders is such a big decision that Patrick Lefevere is taking as long as possible before finalising.

"We talked a bit, he's confident," Lefevere, manager of the Soudal - Quick-Step set up said of Evenepoel to La RTBF. "He covered 220 kilometres last Saturday, that's good. He works on the altitude in the first place because he makes a lot more red blood cells, but also on speed and endurance."

Whilst Evenepoel will be at the start line of Liege-Bastogne-Liege, taking on recent Amstel Gold Race winner Tadej Pogacar for the first time this season, Lefevere is hoping the Soudal - Quick-Step riders taking part elsewhere will impress and stake a claim for a spot alongside the reigning world champion in his quest to claim the Maglia Rosa.

"They are men of confidence. They were around him at the Vuelta and you don't change a winning team. We have eight riders but anything can happen: falls, illness or even covid. So we are going to prepare a selection of ten riders," Lefevere reveals. "I don't have the selection in mind yet, we will know a little more at a meeting this Thursday where we will organize the program between now and the Tour de France."