"Remco is a better athlete in every way" - Lefevere keen on Evenepoel's success for upcoming Vuelta a Espana

Remco Evenepoel's possible transformation into a Grand Tour contender is one of cycling's most interesting plots over the last few years, and the ambitions from Quick-Step Team manager Patrick Lefevere are high for the Belgian supertalent.

In an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, Lefevere has said that “it is pointless to compare the Remco of the Giro with the Remco that will soon be racing the Vuelta. He has become a completely different rider". This comes after the changes the 22-year old has had in the last years when it comes to preparation, racing expertise and diet, all of which he's talked about in recent times.

“Remco is a better athlete in every way, but that does not mean that he will ride the Vuelta to win it. Above all, we want him to grow as a racer,” he added. Lefevere has since the start been a key figure in Evenepoel's guidance, and the Belgian has succeeded in virtually every terrain besides the Grand Tours, where he is having a slow buildup and is for the first time properly preparing for one.

The Belgian, after a first half of the season focused in the classics, has switched his training routine into a more mountain-focused approach, and has lost several kilograms which have seen him already thrive in the ascents of the Clasica San Sebastian where he took a demolishing win. He will not be racing until the start in Utrecht later this month, in an attempt to arrive fresh and be able to have the consistency throughout the entire race.

“He will start fresh and the past has proven that he races better. We aim to win a stage with him and then we’ll see how far he gets in the standings," Lefevere pointed out. "That’s all you need to look for behind our ambitions.”

Entering the Vuelta Evenepoel will be a wildcard, however with no doubt a rider every team will have to take into consideration.