Remco Evenepoel on Giro d'Italia: "The most beautiful race there is in the season, but it can also be the most cruel one"

Two days away from the start of the Giro d'Italia the GC contenders have geared up and are ready to go into the Grand Partenza in Ortona. Remco Evenepoel has spoken to reporters ahead of the race revealing emotions he carries regarding it.

"It's another Grand Tour, it's one of the three, but it's of course a very special country to race in. The parcours can change from one day to the other, you can have really everything," Evenepoel told Cyclingnews. "You have 30 degrees one day then the day after you can have snow and freezing temperatures. And there are a lot of emotions beside it as well, because Italians are very emotional."

After winning the Vuelta a Espana the World Champion proved to have the consistency necessary to fight for a Grand Tour, whilst also having a strong psychological game. That will often come in handy during the three-week race as the riders will be going through three different time-trials, several tense sprints and mountainous days that are at the very least including massive passes and high altitude on multiple days. It'll be a true test of resistance and recovery which Evenepoel will be challenged in.

"I think overall, it's maybe the most beautiful race there is in the season, but it can also be the most cruel one. You can love it, but you can also hate it the day after. That's what makes the Giro very special in my eyes," he concluded. Taking the next step in his career, he now aims for the pink jersey in Rome. It'll be difficult with the likes of Primoz Roglic, João Almeida and Tao Geoghegan Hart all coming in with a high level, but the Belgian is a big favourite to take the title.