Remco Evenepoel looks to learn from Jonas Vingegaard's Grand Tour riding: "I want to take that with me in my backpack to next year's Tour"

Jonas Vingegaard has mastered the art of preparing for the Tour de France. The Dane has won the past two editions of the race with seemingly spotless form and consistency. Remco Evenepoel will race a Grand Tour with him for the first time at the Vuelta a Espana and looks to learn from it.

The Belgian doesn't believe he's the main favourite to win the race. “No, because winning a Grand Tour is extremely difficult. So many things can happen, I experienced that firsthand in the Giro," he explains why. "In that respect, I think I'm making a bolder statement now, because last year I said in advance that I wanted to go for the top 10. Now it's fair to say I'm going for the podium. It's easy to have a bad day and illness is always lurking around the corner. A fall can occur every meter. That's why I say I'm going for the top 3 in the standings and stage victories."

Evenepoel will lead Soudal - Quick-Step, he's won the Vuelta last year but the challenge will be harder this time around, with a strong Jumbo-Visma, a stronger UAE Team Emirates and the likes of Geraint Thomas coming along. "We will race a little more defensively as a team, if you compare that to last year," he is aware. "Especially the first week is now much heavier than the previous edition. But that first week will not be decisive yet, that is really only for the second week and the final week.

"There are teams with a lot of big names at the start, who have to take all the pressure and all the work on their shoulders. That is why we can race a little more defensively with Soudal-Quick-Step in the coming weeks." Evenepoel hopes that this is indeed the scenario as the Dutch team for example comes with a stacked lineup full of only strong climbers. The Belgian team does not, Ilan van Wilder who would be his right-hand man follows a different schedule.

Hence Evenepoel is still coming to the race to learn. He has the ultimate goal of performing at next year's Tour de France and is eager to perform alongside Jonas Vingegaard. “He knows how to win the Tour de France. And so he may also know the secret to claiming the overall victory in this Vuelta. I'm going to try to copy as much of what he does as possible," the time-trial World Champion says.

"I want to take that with me in my backpack to next year's Tour. I'm really looking forward to measuring myself against him. I've raced against Jonas a few times, but not too often. It is good for the peloton, good for cycling, good for the Vuelta and good for himself that Vingegaard is here. It is always a big challenge when such a name is on the way. I am glad he is here.”