"Remco has a winning mentality, but we also need to be realistic" - Evenepoel's coach admits rivals 'have a slight edge in Grand Tours'

For the first time in his career, Remco Evenepoel heads to the Tour de France this summer. Whether or not he can challenge the likes of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard however, remains a hot topic in the cycling world.

"We're certainly aiming for stage wins as well; there's also a time trial... Remco has a winning mentality, but we also need to be realistic," says the Belgian's coach at Soudal - Quick-Step, Koen Pelgrim, in conversation with IDLProCycling.com.

"It's evident that some riders have a slight edge in Grand Tours," Pelgrim admits honestly. "They're more likely to be the ones to beat than Remco, so it would be ambitious to solely target the overall win. A podium finish in the Tour would be fantastic, but we'd also be satisfied with stage victories and a strong overall classification."

In his most recent Grand Tour showing, at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana, Evenepoel, like everyone else at the race was overcome by the dominance of Team Visma | Lease a Bike. "Once again, we have the potential to assemble a strong team for the Tour. When you consider all the names, it's definitely a formidable lineup," Pelgrim says though, insisting Soudal - Quick-Step can be competitive at the Tour de France. "The final lineup hasn't been confirmed yet, so it's up to the team management to announce. Several riders, if they're in top form, will join us, but we're aiming for a diverse selection."

"There's always room for improvement, but each advancement means the subsequent ones might be smaller. The essence of the sport is always about pushing one's limits," the coach continues. "Remco had a productive winter, and the initial signs are promising. Considering his age, it wouldn't be surprising if he makes further progress, although he has already reached a high level for some time now. We're fine-tuning things, experimenting to see what works and what doesn't."

What do you think? Should Evenepoel focus mostly on the general classification or should he adopt more of a stage hunting strategy? Let us know in the comments.