Remco Evenepoel set to focus on Vuelta a España 2022

Remco Evenepoel is unlikely to return to the Giro d’Italia in 2022, having made his Grand Tour roller coaster debut in the Italian race in May, with the focus being on a Vuelta a España start. next season.

Deceuninck-QuickStep CEO Patrick Lefevere said in a Belgian newspaper article, The last hour, that in the first part of the season shorter stage races would be the target.

“We want him to be able to win a tough stage race first, like Tirreno-Adriatico, the Dauphiné or the Tour de Suisse,” said Lefevere. The last hour. “Only then will we field him again in a three-week competition. The idea is that he will be driving the Vuelta a España instead of the Giro d’Italia.

Evenepoel’s departure in his first Grand Tour this year came after the rider was absent from the sport for eight months, recovering from a broken pelvis after crashing at Il Lombardia 2020. The 21-year-old ans reached second place overall in the first half of the Giro d’Italia, climbing up the rankings being one of the only riders able to stay with future winner Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) at the top of the stage 6 arrival in San Giacomo.

He continued to look strong with a fourth place finish at Campo Felice on Stage 9, but the moment the rider hit the Montalcino on Stage 11 he started to back down. After giving up more time on Zoncolan, he then lost all hope of a high position overall during the cold and wet 16th stage against Cortina d’Ampezzo, where he lost 24 minutes. He left the race after the 17th stage, having crossed the finish line that day after crashing into the Passo San Valentino.

Coming back to racing next season to try to finish what he started, and therefore take two Grand Tour starts in one season, was not an option his team manager deemed wise for the rider, who will have 22 years old next January. year.

“It would be a mistake to let him compete in both Italy and Spain next year,” Lefevere told The Last Hour. “Remco was only 22 at the time: a Grand Tour in one year is enough for him.”

Evenepoel closed his 2021 road season – which has achieved eight wins – this month with a fifth in the Chrono des Nations after managing to bring back memories of 2020 at Il Lombardia, finishing 19th, after suffering on the late climb key to Passo di Ganda. He started October with a victory at the Coppa Bernocchi, having finished second in the European Championships road race in September and third in the time trials at the European Championships and World Championships. .

Evenepoel is set to start the 2022 season at La Vuelta a San Juan Internacional in Argentina, which he won in 2020, with the eight-stage race starting on January 23.