Remco Evenepoel will be back in action for the first time since the Giro d'Italia at the upcoming Tour de Suisse. If had been up to the Soudal - Quick-Step boss however, this would not have been the case.
"Remco is going back to the Tour de Suisse. In all honesty: that is a purely sporting choice by himself and by trainer Koen Pelgrim," writes Patrick Lefevere in his column for Het Nieuwsblad. "There are two time trials in Switzerland, of 12.7 and 25.7 kilometres respectively, and that is the best possible preparation for the championships that are coming soon."
Had the choice been solely Lefevere's, Evenepoel would have instead been travelling to Belgium. "I can say that I have texted back and forth with Christophe Impens from Golazo and that they are willing to "make an effort" for the Baloise Belgium Tour," he explains. "But now and then, as CEO, I am also the king of Belgium. A ceremonial head of state, without executive power. That doesn't happen too often for the record."
"The Tour of Switzerland does not make an effort for Evenepoel. They used to be good payers, but when they became part of the WorldTour it was ruined," Lefevere continues. "As in so many races. The WorldTour imposes on the organizers a minimum compensation of 8,500 euros to the teams. But in practice, Switzerland - and all other races - sees that as a standard rate that they never exceed. Eight days of racing in Switzerland, with the Swiss prices at the pump and in the shops, try to fund that with 8,500 euros."
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