Soudal-QuickStep's Remco Evenepoel to tackle Tour de France for first time in 2024, while also targeting Olympic glory
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Published 09/01/2024 at 19:20 GMT
Remco Evenepoel has confirmed his plans for the 2024 season. It's another busy year in the cycling world, with a key focus being the Olympic Games in Paris. The Soudal-QuickStep rider will go for gold in that, while also making his debut in the Tour de France, as he looks to add to his sensational victory in the 2022 Vuelta a Espana, one of only four previous appearances in Grand Tour events.
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Remco Evenepoel has confirmed he will make his hotly-anticipated Tour de France debut this summer.
The Soudal-QuickStep rider is preparing for a busy 2024, which will also see him tackle the Olympic Games in Paris.
The Belgian has only previously raced in four Grand Tour events, including the 2022 Vuelta a Espana, which he won in sensational fashion, beating Enric Mas by just over two minutes in the General Classification.
He is now hoping to add to that success over the coming months, with the Volta a Algarve in Portugal next month his first target.
"My season is in function of the country of France," he laughed.
"I start in Portugal, then Paris-Nice, then the Ardennes, then the Dauphine, the Tour de France and the Olympic Games.
"Then I go on holiday for half a year! I'm looking forward to month of August!"
This year's Tour de France starts in Florence, Italy, on June 29, while the final stage, from Monaco to Nice, is a time trial on July 21.
It's the first time the race won't have finished in Paris since 1974, and that's because of the Olympics, which get underway just five days later.
Evenepoel certainly looks in good shape as he goes in search of a golden summer, as he set a Strava record when on the Coll de Rates climb on Monday.
And Soudal-QuickStep CEO Patrick Lefevere believes the 23-year old can help the team to another medal-laden year.
"If everything goes smooth, I'm convinced he can go on the podium," he said.
"Knowing his character, he will not be happy with a podium, he'll want to win the time trial in the Tour de France and some stages.
"He has nothing to prove. It's better to be an outsider than the favourite, so let's be the outsider. It's always nice when the outsider wins."
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