Remco Evenepoel outlines 2024 ambitions at Tour de France and Olympics - 'Most important month of my life'
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Updated 12/12/2023 at 16:29 GMT
Next year is shaping up as a big one for Remco Evenepoel as he takes on the Tour de France and goes for gold at the Paris Olympic Games. The Soudal Quick-Step rider has spoken about his ambitions and his thoughts on facing Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic at the Tour. He has also discussed his plans for 2024 and where he might start his season.
Evenepoel completes hat-trick of wins in Vuelta with solo victory on Stage 18, Kuss retains red
Remco Evenepoel is preparing for the “most important month” of his life next summer as he goes up against “the gods of Grand Tour racing” at the Tour de France and then aims for gold at the Olympics.
The Soudal Quick-Step rider is set to make his debut at the Tour in 2024 alongside Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Primoz Roglic (Bora-hansgrohe).
The Tour de France finishes on July 21, just a few days before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on July 26.
Evenepoel didn’t medal at the Tokyo Olympics but will be out for a podium spot in Paris as well as success at the Tour.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad after being voted Belgian Sportsman of the Year for a third time, he said: "Next season I'm focused on Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Tour de France, and the Paris Olympic Games with the Road World Championships behind that.
"My ambitions are for a third win in Liege and it's a dream to leave Paris with two medals.
"Then there's the Tour. It'll be a voyage of discovery. With Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic, the gods of Grand Tour racing are at the start. The top five is the ambition – it would be a dream come true to perform better than any of them.
"A stage win is also the goal, so then I would have achieved the beautiful trilogy of a stage win in each Grand Tour.
"The Tour and the Olympic Games in July, the most important month of my life so far – and perhaps forever – is coming."
Evenepoel’s recent achievements include claiming two gold medals at the World Championships (road race in 2022 and time trial in 2023) and winning the Vuelta a Espana last year.
He is also a multiple stage winner at the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta.
Looking ahead to his plans for next year, he said: “Where do I start again? That may not be known yet. It has to be a surprise.
"What I can say is that I won't do any altitude training before Liege. It will be a season with few races.
"From May, in the build-up to the Tour and Olympics, I'll be away from home to alternate altitude training with few races, so for Liege, I want to spend as much time as possible at my Spanish base, close to my family.
"I can train uphill there and it's easier to put in kilometres on my time trial bike. Above all, it will keep me mentally fresh. I want to start my preparation for the Tour with a fresh and empty head."
Having taken some time off at the end of the 2023 campaign, Evenepoel is now back in training as he prepares for next season.
"I didn't touched the bike for five weeks," he admitted.
"I didn’t touch the bike for five weeks, but am quickly building up fitness, so that shows peace in my mind. I notice during training that I can do everything according to plan."
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