"You will see the rest next week" - Remco Evenepoel teases possible transfer in the coming days

Remco Evenepoel is the headliner of Soudal - Quick-Step, and the Belgian team currently is in quite a pickle. It is unsure whether the team will continue, or if so in which conditions. The Belgian has been considering his options over the past few months and has issued a statement this morning which leads to the possibility of a soon-to-be transfer.

"That didn't cross my mind and I was easily able to give it a place. It was therefore not difficult to keep the focus. I made Lombardy a goal and worked hard for two weeks. Normally I should be ready for this," Evenepoel said at the start of the Italian monument. “I spent a lot of time on the moped with my dad. I was able to relax for many moments. But we do want to win today. Not necessarily me, but the whole team. We have a lot of guys in good shape. Ilan Van Wilder and Andrea Bagioli won this week. We will show that our solidarity is greater than ever.”

Evenepoel has crashed in the first kilometers of the race which is far from a good start, however he enters the race as one of the favourites. Together with Ilan van Wilder, Soudal - Quick-Step have serious chances of fighting for the win, in a route that shouldn't be too tactical however. Over the past months there had been a feud between Patrick Evenepoel and Patrick Lefevere, and there was a vague confidence given to the team to be able to build a block towards his high ambitions.

However the news of a merger with Jumbo-Visma - which now look unlikely to happen - added another element of stress and uncertainty to his stay with the team. Now it is unclear what will happen with the Belgian structure. If Evenepoel were to stay that would be an easy answer when he was asked about his future this morning, but instead he replied with an enigmatic set of words: “I am now focusing on the race first, you will see the rest next week.”