PALMA DE MAIORCA (Spain) – In this small town in the centre of the largest Balearic island la Red Bull-Bora has decided to hold the traditional media day in view of the upcoming season. Without a doubt the most anticipated of the German battleship was Remco Evenepoel.
A black sweatshirt, a sparrowhawk mustache, and even a goatee. But above all, the first thing we notice is his relaxed face. And this feeling is also confirmed by Mattia Cattaneo, the one who was a teammate in Soudal-Quick Step and who has followed him here. "He's more relaxed. I see him calmer. It's as if Remco left the fold by leaving Soudal».
Let's go…
In the carousel of the various "corners" of these Majorcan studios, a flurry of interviews unfolds. Fortunately, the schedules are regular, otherwise While Remco is speaking, we'd miss Roglic. While Roglic is there, we risk losing Lipowitz... So much, almost too much, on the table.
And this very large number of people tells us that this is a very strong team. A team that can hold its own against UAE Emirates. And Remco starts right here, from the team and the work that is being done.
«I received – says Evenepoel – a warm welcome from my new teammates. Primoz has always been an idol of mine, so it's fantastic to share the road with him. I'm discovering a new environment. It's a very solid team that suits my personality and ambitions well. I came from a professional team, and I'm joining a professional and even bigger team. Before, we were Flemish, but here it's something international. Everyone has a workspace and a specific role. The person preparing your buffet doesn't tell you what to eat, so to speak. Professionalism is at its peak in every sector, in every role.
We're all trying to work together. There are a lot of strong guys... I've been here very little, but during these days of training camp we'll get to know each other better. I only knew Cattaneo, who was on my team, and it was a surprise to find him again (actually, he knew very well, ed.). We talk a lot, have meetings. Still, I feel welcomed and trusted. Really, everything is going well for now."
Between trust and pressure
Evenepoel feels confident, then. And that's fine, this challenge also comes with its own "burdens." His contract is one of those that weighs heavily. If a global giant like Red Bull decides to invest in you, it's true that they'll give you a lot, but it's also true that you'll have to give just as much. In short, they expect a lot from him. And we asked him explicitly if he feels the pressure of this. "New chapter", as the introductory claim of the media day read.
"Pressure? No," Remco replies, smiling, "I don't feel it. Why should I? We all work hard, we all strive for the best every day. Then I like to feel the pressure during the races, it's an extra push».
There is already talk of an internal rivalry with Florian Lipowitz, third in the last Tour, but Evenepoel is very good at slipping. And all in all he's right when he says that in a race like the Tour de France starting with two strikers is better.
«This will be the first time for me that I will race a Grand Tour with two leaders. We'll do some training camps and the Catalunya match together, and it'll be a test to get to know each other and understand how to move together, even tactically, given that we're different."
Giro no, Tour yes
Speaking of the Tour, this is the big goal that Remco, but also the owner Denk, announced at the opening of the meeting: "We will bring the strongest team to the Grande Boucle."
At this point we couldn't help but ask him about it. Tour of Italy. «I would have liked to do it – Remco explained – there is a very long time trial and there are no impossible climbs. Whether or not to race the Giro was the most difficult moment, but this is the decision. By the way, I found out yesterday (Tuesday, ed.) that I would be doing the Tour.
«My program – explains Remco – starts with Catalunya, precisely, and will continue with the ArdennesHowever, I won't be at the Sanremo or the Tour of Flanders: this year I want a season that runs as smoothly as possible. Let's not forget that due to my accident last fall, I missed many months. That's why we decided on a basic calendar, without any crazy ideas or experiments. So I want a long winter on which to build a solid, very solid foundation."
A small clarification: Evenepoel will actually start his racing season a little earlier and will do so with the team time trial right here in Palma de Mallorca. The team time trial will once again be important as it will open the Tour. Then it will take part in the Valenciana.
However, Evenepoel himself left a window open on Tirreno-Adriatico o Paris-Nice, He argued that there's indeed plenty of time between Valencia and Catalunya. On the other hand, it would be an ideal time to check out the Tour stages. After the Tour, the schedule currently includes races in Canada.
Objective to perform
Returning to Remco's words, speaking of a solid foundation, he himself opens another important chapter, the one relating to performance. As we were saying, A lot is asked of the Belgian, and he's ready to give it. He's ready to put himself on the line, as he seems to be doing already. But above all, performance was the issue that plagued Denk and his staff last year. According to what they told us, this aspect made him quite tense, which in turn affected the rest of the staff and ultimately the athletes.
"We didn't waste a minute," the time trial world champion explained. "We immediately started working hard. We did a lot of tests and interviews, especially last week. With so many people around, everyone checks every piece of data. Dan Lorang and John Wakefield are impressive. They check everything before every training session and we also talk afterwards and if necessary we make adjustments together."
Remco stronger?
"Can I still improve? I'll say I work hard, but to go fast and win, there are many details that come into play. It's not enough to just get on the bike and go. Materials also matter: for example, the bike is the same but the groupset is different. I switched from Shimano to SRAM and I'm getting used to it. Consistency also matters. Last year I had many ups and downs. I was out for a long time in the winter, as I said. I won the first race, but then I struggled. After the Tour, I was out for another two weeks. Then they told me I'd slow down after 4-5 hours... For now I feel stronger».
Let's hope it's as he says. A counterpoint to Pogacar would only enhance the spectacle. So far, the only one to have managed to do so in any classics has been Van der Poel. When he leaves, Remco continues to smile, despite being "kidnapped" by TV and hordes of journalists for several hours. Could this really be the year of the Belgian's rebirth?
