Remco Evenepoel (Soudal QuickStep) has reflected on his season, saying he believes he would have won the Giro but for catching Covid-19 on the race and being forced out. He also revealed he had produced the best power numbers of his career in the 19.6km stage 1 TT, where he claimed victory by 22 seconds ahead of Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers).
He added his bad day on the Tourmalet stage at La Vuelta - when he lost 27 minutes and lost his general classification hopes - was down to being "mentally and physically" empty. However, after switching off that day he was back to himself the next day, winning stage 14.
Evenepoel spoke of pressure a number of times, saying being constantly linked to Ineos Grenadiers took its toll this year, as did the "bickering" between his father and team boss - Patrick Evenepoel and Patrick Lefevere. He added his frantic lifestyle - training camps, travel, racing and rarely being home - was something he now knew he could not maintain. He also believed aiming for two Grand Tours in one season was going to be "difficult for me".
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"There is still life besides the race; with Oumi (his wife), with my parents, family and friends. I have not been home enough in 2023 and sometimes lacked the much-needed peace of mind. That has to change in 2024," he told Het Laatste Nieuws.
"At the time you think: 'oh well, it's worth it, this will only take about ten years'. But at the end of such a season you realise that you cannot maintain this frantic pace for the next three years,” an apparent reference to the three years left to run on his contract with Soudal-QuickStep.
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Asking about the "bickering" between his father/agent, Patrick Evenepoel, and team boss Patrick Lefevere, as well as being linked with a transfer to Ineos Grenadiers, Evenepoel said at the time he did not think he felt the pressure of those issues. But, on reflection, he believed he was indirectly affected.
"Whenever Oumi and I sat together quietly during that period, I kept bringing it up: 'They have to be able to say and write something about me all the time, the shit always comes over me'," he laughed. "It was really extreme at the time and I just wanted to be left alone for a while. I felt good in the run-up to the Worlds, but it must have drained some energy.”
Despite his "frustrating" experiences in the Grand Tours this year - being forced out of the Giro and slumping out of the general classification on the Vuelta - he would continue to place most of his focus on three-week races. And for next year, the Tour de France was the main goal.
"I am firmly convinced that with flawless, well-structured, preparation I can really score," he said. "I don't need much competition and can also make myself 'race-ready' with targeted training. The only condition: everything must be 100 per cent correct, not 95 per cent. I have learned that.
"From that perspective, the combination of two Grand Tours in one season will be difficult for me in the future. Unless I lighten my program, make it a little more selective, race less and opt more for training and recovery.
“One day I want to return to the Giro and try to win that round. But in 2024 everything will revolve around the Tour. Also my classic spring. Liège-Bastogne-Liège certainly fits in there. And maybe I'll add another Monument.”
