Remco Evenepoel 'should not go to the Tour de France' despite Giro d'Italia exit, claims Philippe Gilbert
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Published 16/05/2023 at 16:47 GMT
Will Remco Evenepoel be tempted to make his Tour de France debut in 2023? The Belgian’s dream of winning the Giro d’Italia came crashing down after a positive Covid test on Sunday, leaving the Belgian’s calendar for the remainder of the season unclear. But Eurosport expert Philippe Gilbert believes Evenepoel would be foolish to go to the Tour despite his setback in Italy.
'A huge blow' - Breakaway on Evenepoel's Covid withdrawal
Remco Evenepoel’s withdrawal from the Giro d’Italia has fuelled suggestions he could make a shock appearance at the Tour de France this summer – but Eurosport expert Philippe Gilbert has urged the Belgian to ignore those calls.
Evenepoel quit the Giro on Sunday following a positive Covid test, just hours after he grabbed the maglia rosa with victory on Stage 9’s individual time trial.
It is rare for GC riders to target the Giro and Tour in the same season, but Evenepoel’s early departure from Italy raises the possibility of him shifting his focus to the Tour, which begins in Bilbao on July 1.
However, Gilbert says he should instead focus on building towards the Road World Championships in August, where he is expected to defend his road race crown and chase an elusive time trial victory.
"Remco should not go to the Tour de France,” Gilbert said. “I would restart at the Tour of Belgium [on June 14] and the Belgian time trial championship [June 22].
“I would then go two or three weeks in altitude to prepare the second part of the season. I would start again at the Tour de Wallonie [July 22] which is the best preparation for the Clasica San Sebastian [July 29] – and the ideal preparation for the World Championship.
On the World Championships, Gilbert added: “We know that he wants to double. He wants to win the time trial, we know that is his big goal.
“I was in the room with him when he finished second in England [Yorkshire 2019]. It was a big disappointment for him.
“Being a time trial world champion is very important for him. He could double with the road race with the right preparation.”
Seven-time Grand Tour champion Alberto Contador said Evenepoel “must be broken” with his shock exit from the Giro, while Dan Lloyd called it “a huge blow” for the rider and the race.
Evenepoel arrived at the Giro as the narrow favourite ahead of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and was set to start Stage 10 with a 45-second lead in the general classification after his ITT victory.
Instead, Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) lined up in the leader’s pink jersey for Tuesday’s cold and wet run to Viareggio, two seconds ahead of Roglic in GC and five ahead of team-mate Tao Geoghegan Hart.
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