Remco Evenepoel travels to the USA to begin 2025 Tour de France preparation

Remco Evenepoel is arguably the most talented time-trialist in the current peloton but this does not mean he can settle with what he's got at the moment. The Soudal - Quick-Step rider has made a trip over to the USA for windtunnel testing as he begins his preparation for the 2025 Tour de France.

After the route reveal, the Belgian said that "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," whilst route designed Thierry Gouvenou himself aknowledges that the double Olympic Champion should be favoured by the first week of next year's Grand Boucle: "In general: the first week should definitely suit Evenepoel," he said.

The early time-trial doesn't make Evenepoel more of a favourite to win the Tour, but spending time in the yellow jersey for the first time is a very realistic scenario - this year, he also won the race's sole flat time-trial. Besides this, among others he won the Olympic and World Time-Trial Championships. He is looking to improve on these performances in the face of an ever-evolving peloton, and has made the travel to Specialized headquarters in California according to Cyclingnews. More specifically in the Morgan Hill area, but Instagram stories show that the Olympic Champion is also enjoying his leisure time in the area.

The idea of an Evenepoel who is stronger in the time-trials than what is currently the case is hard to imagine, but it is important to remember that every year technology, nutrition and training methods evolve and this could help other riders close the gap. Taking into consideration how his main Grand Tour rivals (Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic) are also specialists in the discipline, the 24-year old is looking to have every bit of advantage he can get into an important season where the Tour should again be the main goal.