Remco Evenepoel: "If I leave for the Giro d'Italia with a lot of confidence and motivation, all those sacrifices will have paid off"

Remco Evenepoel had quite an emotional triumph yesterday at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He was quite clear in the flash interview but has given further insight into his plans and process in a press conference afterwards, as he also discussed it's influence in his Giro d'Italia.

“It is true that this victory shows many similarities with last year's victory. The final past the Côte de la Redoute has become a lot tougher this year due to the course change. I think this course suits me better," the World Champion started. "You could also see that because on that stretch to the Côte des Forges my lead quickly grew to over a minute. I knew I could do better here, which is why I had planned to attack the Redoute again.”

Having set a Strava record at La Redoute the day previous to the race it seemed as if Soudal - Quick-Step intended on repeating their 2022 plan. With Tadej Pogacar out of the race early on it suddenly transformed Evenepoel into the man to beat. Hence the Belgian team controlled the race and rode all-out until that ascent, making sure no serious move would anticipate Evenepoel's attack.

“It was a very strong move from Ilan (van Wilder, who paced most of the ascent, ed.). I looked back once and saw that only four riders could join. That's when I knew it was time to take matters into my own hands. When I started on the most difficult part of the climb, at most one man could follow me. In the end it was Tom Pidcock who followed me, but he couldn't keep up this pace for too long," Evenepoel described. "That made me move forward on my own. Plan C was to win the race in a sprint, but in the end I'm glad plan A worked out."

Plan A was to drop everyone on sheer power and that's what the Belgian achieved. Tom Pidcock was able to keep up with the attack, but in the small hilltop afterwards he cracked. Evenepoel was on one of his days and there was no-one able to match him in the many climbs of the final kilometers.

"But of course we also had other scenarios in mind. Plan B was to make the race hard on La Redoute and then make the race tough in the zone after this climb. We hoped that only a few boys could join. Then it was the intention to shake the tree again on the long climb of the Roche-aux-Faucons.”

However that was not necessary. As the rest of the field began a fight for the podium, Evenepoel comfortably expanded his gap to over a minute on the ascents, and could take the treacherous and slippery descents slowly so as to avoid a crash. His win last year unblocked his winning ways, but now he's taken a glorious victory in the rainbow jersey which meant as much.

“It is a very important win for me. I knew myself after the UAE Tour and the Volta a Catalunya that I already had a good level. Winning this way and in the bad weather conditions makes it quite special," he added. "In addition, I now also have my finish photo in the rainbow jersey. Of course it is special to win a Monument as a world champion.”

This win came as he prepares for the Giro d'Italia. Last year he won the Clásica San Sebastián following the same preparation for the Vuelta, and there he kept his best level all the way into the end. Hence it feels like it was an expected performance from the World Champion, who has spent the last few weeks at altitude in Mount Teide, and will now spend some time sleeping at an altitude tent in a final training camp in the Calpe region close to home.

“Some people still find it strange that you can perform at this level immediately after such a training camp. However, we are not on vacation for a few weeks. I often sat there for six to seven hours on the bike. Still, after such a training camp you come back mentally reasonably fresh in competition. During such an camp you do not have the stress of riding in the peloton and fighting for your position," Evenepoel explains.

It is a lot of efffort, but Evenepoel has spent the whole winter and spring very focused on his goals. The effort is paying off. “Of course all those training camps are sacrifices. From the beginning of January until the end of the Giro d'Italia at the end of May, I have been home for no more than seven or eight days."

"To be home less than two weeks in six months is quite hard. But, it's all worth it when you win a big game like this. If I leave for the Giro d'Italia with a lot of confidence and motivation, all those sacrifices will have paid off.”