Remco Evenepoel reacts to Tour de France route: "A time trial so early in the program gives me the opportunity to wear the Yellow Jersey"

Remco Evenepoel was not present in Paris this morning for the Tour de France presentation, however he kept a very close eye on what was to be revealed in Paris. Of course, for those with a close eye the route was already fully out there, but the Belgian had the confirmation of what is to come in 2025 and has already shared some interesting insight into his ambitions.

“It’s a very particular and very beautiful route. Moreover, with the Grand Départ not far from my house," Evenepoel says in words to L´'Equipe. Born in the south of Belgium, he will only be a short drive away from his hometown if he is to start the Tour de France next July in the Hauts-de-France. As a strong classics rider and threat in the hilly races, the many opportunities in the first week make him a dangerous card for the overall classification once again.

Although on the first week, the presence of a time-trial on stage 5 before the presence of any high mountain stage makes him a great favourite to take on the yellow jersey if he is to put all of his chips in the Grand Boucle. "The fact that there is a time trial so early in the program gives me the opportunity to wear the Yellow Jersey in the first week. Of course, eventually this will have little importance for the final general classification".

But the Soudal - Quick-Step rider is under no illusion that the race will be decided there; instead it will be in the many mountainous stages which feature a very similar formula, but each with a long and steep summit finish both in the Pyrenees, Alps and also Mont Ventoux. "There will then be many climbs and many stages to tackle. The mountain sections seem beautiful to me, with many legendary passes to climb," he concluded.