Remco Evenepoel: "In the Tour de France, all the pressure on the shoulders of UAE-Team Emirates"

Remco Evenepoel spoke with the press again on the eve of the Critérium du Dauphiné. The Belgian of Soudal Quick-Step returns to competition in the preparatory race for the Tour de France after his fall in the Tour of the Basque Country and is starting with some uncertainties due to the effects of that crash. This coming week, he hopes to turn those question marks into exclamation points.

How are you feeling at the moment?

"Good. I don’t really have ambitions for this week. I mainly want to see where I stand in terms of my form. For now, I have no expectations, but I prefer to take it day by day. With Ilan Van Wilder and Mikel Landa, we have two strong men for the overall classification here, and if I can, I would like to support them. I mainly want to regain rhythm and improve. Then it will already be a success."

Are you still experiencing issues from your fall?

"I hope not. In the first days in the Sierra Nevada, everything was still a bit stiff, but eventually, it got better each day. I'm not scared anymore, so that’s also nice. It still feels a bit uncomfortable, especially on the time trial bike when there’s pressure on my shoulder. However, it’s good enough to race and take risks. If that wasn’t the case, then I wouldn’t have started."

What do you know about the course?

"I have to apologize because I haven’t really looked at it yet. I know the fourth stage is a time trial and that we end with some tough stages, but I haven’t looked into it further than that. I think it's a good example of my expectations for this race. I did want to race before the Tour, as I haven’t raced much yet."

How important is this time trial?

"It is important, especially to see how I can distribute the pressure on my shoulders. It’s not a technical time trial, so positioning is important. I see it as a good test for my shoulder, as the feeling is more important than the result."

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Evenepoel also expects a lot from Pogacar in the Tour

You're taking it easy this coming week. Why is that?

"My injuries were not the most severe, but the impact of the fall at high speed was quite significant on the body. I've also had surgery, so you feel that too. All muscles had some damage, so it took a while before I really felt ready. In the past, I’ve come back too quickly, which I didn’t want to do now. I didn’t want to skip any steps, and I think it was the right choice. After all, the big goal is the Tour."

How do you view the competition? Primoz Roglic, for example?

"He is one of the best riders in the world, so I look up to him. He’s special, in his own way. But I enjoy racing with him, as I learn a lot from him tactically during unusual situations. Now, it's also interesting to see where he stands one month before the Tour."

And Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar? How do you see the dynamics?

"All the pressure will be on the shoulders of UAE-Team Emirates, certainly. Having Tadej, his races in the Giro, and knowing they are getting some more shadow leaders, they have the man and the team to beat. Jonas is again a two-time winner, so there will be pressure on him too. We feel little pressure. We just have to try to keep up. Tadej is quite a special guy, but everyone will also be curious to see where he stands after the Giro. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he wins the Tour after the Giro."

Do you expect him to be that dominant?

"He is the greatest talent in the peloton and the best of recent years, so if anyone can... the Giro was very impressive to watch, but sometimes also boring. Things were clear early on, but if anyone can do the double, it's him. I'm looking forward to racing against him, but I think he will be right there from day one."