Remco Evenepoel says winning Tour de France is 'ultimate dream', but may race Giro d'Italia instead in 2023
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Published 12/10/2022 at 22:48 GMT
Remco Evenepoel looks likely to win multiple Grand Tours in his career, but his first tilt at the Tour de France may have to wait until 2024 after the Belgian suggested he may ride the Giro d'Italia instead next year. Evenepoel won the Vuelta a Espana in September, and a match-up with Tadej Pogacar and Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard would be a mouthwatering prospect when it does happen.
Molano sprints to victory on Stage 2 of Tour de Langkawi
Remco Evenepoel says his "ultimate dream" is to win the Tour de France, but says he may not ride the event in 2023.
Evenepoel, of Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, won his first Grand Tour at the Vuelta a Espana in September and followed that up by taking the men's road race title at the World Championships just weeks later.
The Belgian has therefore well and truly arrived in cycling's elite, but an appearance in the sport's blue riband event may have to wait, given Evenepoel's noises towards riding in May's Giro d'Italia instead.
“The Tour de France mission will now be a priority," Evenepoel told Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad.
"One day I want to win there too, that's the ultimate dream.
"That does not exclude an intermediate milestone in 2023. So far, the Giro d'Italia looks very nice.
"Of course I will have to take our two sprinters [Fabio Jakobsen and the incoming Tim Merlier] into account when choosing a Grand Tour.
“But actually we can divide it neatly. I think that's better, otherwise you risk division. That also applies to a sprinter, who deserves a strong lead-out.
"So you could say: me the Giro, Fabio the Tour and Tim the Vuelta."
Whatever happens next year, Evenepoel's breakout campaign will live long in the memory and even the 22-year-old, speaking recently, admitted he couldn't believe how successful he has been.
“It’s incredible, the things I achieved this year,” Evenepoel said.
“A season cannot be better – to win a monument [Liege-Bastogne-Liege], a rainbow jersey and a Grand Tour. I think you cannot do better than the year I’m having right now.”
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