He got the summer haircut. Flush. History, perhaps, of losing the last grams before taking the start of the Tour de France, Friday in Florence. With an emaciated face, Remco Evenepoel has visibly shed the excess weight he carried on the roads of the Critérium du Dauphiné at the beginning of the month. Since then, his training at Isola 2000 has had the desired effect and even if he had to give up the Belgian championship last Sunday due to a cold, the Brabançon is ready to discover the most prestigious race on the calendar . When he set his sights on it six years ago, Patrick Lefevere had it in his head that he would, one day, take the Schepdaal prodigy to France in order to aim for the highest possible summits.
This Tuesday, he took half an hour of his time to talk about his passion for this yellow jersey that he wore for the first time at the Dauphiné. He also delved into his memory box to find the images he kept of the Grande Boucle from his childhood, when he still hoped to become a football star. Time for that little smirk he wears when he is calm.
guillementI was at the Aalst criterium and I was impressed by Robbie McEwen’s green jersey.
As a kid, was there only football in your daily life or did cycling play a small role?
“When I was little, only football mattered to me. But I followed cycling in general, and the Tour de France in particular, like many teenagers.”
Were you following the Tour with family or rather with friends?
”I followed the Tour on vacation with my dad. It was good timing: the beginning of July coincided with the football recovery period, before starting the following season with a small training course. We were abroad (Editor’s note: often in Türkiye)we ate ice cream and watched the race in the afternoon.”
Were you looking at the entire stage or just the last few kilometers?
”Most of the time, it was just the last mile. When there were legendary passes on the menu, we spent more time in front of the screen. But in the event of a massive sprint, we were content with the end (he smiles). I was very interested in sporting performance, I didn’t really observe the landscapes.”
Were you following other races?
”Yes, the classics: the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I really loved watching the Round, Hell of the North and the Tour. I really liked it.”
What is your first memory of the Tour de France?
”As a child, I had been to the Aalst criterium, just after the finish of the Grande Boucle. Robbie McEwen was there with his beautiful green jersey. It had marked me. But the first moments I spent glued to the television were the duels between Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck. I was also starting to understand cycling well.”
guillementIf I want to win a Tour de France, we would have to redo the courses like in his time, with times of 70 miles.
And you were a fan of Contador… because you have a bit of the same temperament as him?
”I liked the Spaniard, yes, but I’m not like him. I evolved into a different style of runner. I’m more like Miguel Indurain, all things considered of course. I’m not the best climber in the peloton but one of the best riders in the world. So if I want to win a Tour de France, we would have to redo the courses like in his time, with times of 70 miles. I would like that, yes (laughs). I have to try to hang on in the mountains and take time from the others in the time trials. In principle, others are superior to me in the passes.”
As soon as you started cycling, you talked about the Tour de France. Did you already have the feeling that this race was made for you?
”No, it was more of a dream for me. Trying to win the Tour became an ambition when I won the Vuelta (in 2022). I made it my mind to aim for victory in the three grand tours.”
Do you find the yellow jersey more prestigious than the iridescent world champion?
“It is a question of perspective. Wearing the yellow jersey for one day is not as prestigious as becoming a world champion and riding in that distinctive tunic for a month. On the other hand, if you can climb to the top of the podium in yellow at the finish of the Tour de France, that has a completely different value.”
At the Dauphiné, we felt moved when you took the yellow jersey after the time trial. Did you realize at that moment the weight of this tunic?
“Not especially. At the time, it was above all a source of pride to take the lead in the general classification of such a race after complicated weeks following my broken collarbone and shoulder blade. It was a great moment of happiness but I didn’t feel the pressure linked to this very special jersey.”
You are a sports lover, in the broadest sense of the term. At the start of your career, you said your ultimate dream would be to be an Olympic champion. Is this still the case today?
”Now the Tour de France has also become more important. But it is clear that in an Olympic year, it is impossible not to make the Olympics a priority. This July will, in any case, be very special. I can already approach my first Tour de France with ambition and I have two chances of a medal (the time trial and the road race) at the Games. I am starting this period with enormous motivation and enthusiasm.”
