Remco Evenepoel wore a COVID-19 face masks as he spoke to the Tour de France media within the Palazzo Vecchio within the Renaissance coronary heart of Florence, eager to keep away from catching a virus so near the beginning of his first Tour de France.
Lidl-Trek misplaced Tao Geoghegan Hart to COVID-19 after the Critérium du Dauphiné and his teammates Mads Pedersen and Giulio Ciccone additionally caught the virus however are using the Tour. Visma-Lease a Bike have returned to carrying masks after Sepp Kuss was compelled to overlook the Tour on account of struggling with COVID-19.
Evenepoel isn’t taking any dangers however isn’t sick.
“It’s about being cautious,” he mentioned from behind his purple masks, sweating within the warmth of the packed room.
“I don’t wish to finish the Tour like final yr’s Giro. I needed to really feel a bit safer within the press convention. We’re going to have a variety of contact with individuals for just a few hours through the staff presentation, too, so carrying a masks is only a warning. I don’t wish to scare those that I’m sick, I’m effective, however I’m cautious.”
Evenepoel has received the Vuelta a España and different main races however admitted, with lower than 48 hours to the beginning of this yr’s Tour, that he’s beginning to perceive the ‘grandeur’ of the most important race within the sport.
“The primary second once I actually began to really feel the significance of the Tour was once I entered this room,” he mentioned.
“It’s the primary time I’ve seen so many individuals in a press convention. The staff presentation will likely be large, too. However there’s no stress thus far, and I really feel fairly relaxed.”
The 24-year-old Belgian lately in contrast UAE Group Emirates to Actual Madrid in a soccer analogy and now described his Soudal-QuickStep staff as an underdog.
“We’re an underdog staff as a result of we don’t have the massive star riders like they’ve, however we have now the psychological energy and a variety of expertise, too,” he mentioned, displaying delight within the eight-rider Soudal-QuickStep line-up.
“Yves Lampert is doing his fifth Tour, Mikel Landa is doing what looks as if his two hundredth Tour and Moscon too. We have now a variety of expertise.”
Evenepoel set himself modest however vital targets for his Tour debut.
“A stage win and to make it to Good could be successful, to enhance myself as a GC rider,” he mentioned.
“I wish to turn into a greater rider in comparison with the very best guys and choose up some outcomes. However using the GC is about three weeks, not two days, however we’re ready for it.”
Even when Evenepoel endures a nasty day, he is not going to ease up like he did throughout final yr’s Vuelta. He’ll combat on and endure.
“I’m right here for a great GC outcome. My preparation for final yr’s Vuelta was totally different, I didn’t really feel the identical. We’ll take a unique strategy right here for certain and never let it go like that day. We’ll see, however I hope I’m not dropped once more.”
Evenepoel mentioned he was mentally prepared for the testing gravel stage on the finish of the primary week and for the opening stage to Rimini and Bologna when the rolling terrain and late climbs of San Luca close to Bologna may see the Tour blow up very early.
True to character, Evenepoel spoke bluntly, particularly about defending Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard and the best way Visma-Lease a Bike seem to have performed down his possibilities after his horrible crash on the Itzulia Bsasque Nation.
“If we imagine the Visma staff, he’s nowhere, they mentioned he’s not even right here to combat for the rostrum. Their explanations are unusual,” Evenepoel mentioned.
“Nevertheless it’s Jonas Vingeggard, so I believe he’ll find yourself right here to combat with the very best and within the combine for the Tour de France victory for certain.”
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