C'est un Remco Evenepoel tout sourire et visiblement de très bonne humeur qui s'est prêté au jeu de la conférence de presse ce jeudi, à deux jours du Grand Départ de la 78e édition du Tour d'Espagne (26 août au 17 septembre) depuis Barcelone ! Le leader de la Soudal Quick-Step, qui avait remporté son premier Grand Tour l'an passé sur les routes espagnoles, devra faire face à une concurrence accrue cette année, notamment avec la présence d'un Primoz Roglic à 100% et de Jonas Vingegaard, mais aussi du duo Juan Ayuso-Joao Almeida d'UAE Team Emirates, d'Enric Mas (Movistar Team), de Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers)... Une adversité qui n'effraie pas le Belge de 23 ans, qui a dévoilé avec décontraction ses objectifs pour sur cette Vuelta. "Mes attentes ? Ne pas attraper le Covid ! Blague à part, comme toujours j'espère pouvoir gagner une étape et viser le podium final à Madrid. Ce seront mes principaux objectifs".
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00:00 You can train a bit for it. You can try to do some efforts in hot places.
00:08 Doing some sauna sessions maybe.
00:13 But I already saw that Monday is going to be much colder.
00:18 So it looks like we're not going to have the same heat for the full three weeks probably.
00:23 But of course, training in the heat also has a lot of advantages in building up the shape and stuff like that.
00:32 They're already comparing heat training with altitude training sessions.
00:38 So it looks like it has a lot of sense to training in hot conditions.
00:44 But of course, it's very uncomfortable.
00:46 So yeah, trying to adapt yourself as much as possible by training.
00:51 And kind of staying at hot places, locations.
00:57 That's how you can prepare yourself the best, I think, for heat conditions.
01:03 Yeah, like always, hoping for a stage win.
01:08 Be up there in the GC.
01:10 Kind of learn new things about myself, about the team.
01:15 But like I said, especially stage wins.
01:19 And going for the final podium in Madrid would be the big goal for this World Cup.
01:26 I think I've been there.
01:30 I've been at Angliru to the recon of that stage.
01:33 I did the climb on about race pace.
01:37 So I know what to come.
01:40 It's very steep, of course.
01:42 I think having seen that finish and the stage in particular is quite a good thing.
01:50 Last year in Vuelta, we didn't do any recons.
01:55 And I had some, let's say, disadvantages from that.
01:58 And now we're seeing the most important stages.
02:00 I think it can only be an advantage in terms of knowing what is coming.
02:06 But yeah, it's a very steep one.
02:09 But it's not the only one.
02:10 I think the day after we have Cruz de Linares.
02:12 Also this one is very steep.
02:14 Tourmalet, the last 2-3K is also pretty steep.
02:17 So there's a lot of steep climbs in this Vuelta.
02:21 And also very long.
02:23 So it's yeah, I think it has been good that I saw those stages and that I've been training on longer and steeper climbs in my preparation.
02:32 I think what can have the biggest effect on my Vuelta is your T-shirt.
02:38 No, probably a bit.
02:41 Because for the World Championship TT, it was quite a flat TT.
02:47 So you want to play a bit.
02:50 I mean, not play, but you want to look what is the best weight for this TT.
02:54 What is the best preparation?
02:56 But the good thing is it was a long TT.
02:59 So I think it's going to be a good one.
03:01 So I think it's going to be a good one.
03:07 Of course, it's a different course, a different race.
03:10 But the duration of the effort is almost the same.
03:13 So I think that's also a good thing that the TT was long.
03:19 But yeah, in terms of weight, it's a good thing.
03:22 And I think it's going to be a good one.
03:24 So I think that's also a good thing that the TT was long.
03:31 But yeah, in terms of weight, it's correct that the last 10 days I had to lose a bit of the weight after the TT.
03:40 But that was actually quite easy and that worked out well.
03:43 So I think that was the biggest change that we still had to make in the last two weeks.
03:48 No, I think I already said it a lot, but to say I'm going to win a Grand Tour is very difficult
03:55 because there's so many things that can happen.
03:57 I've been faced with that in the Giro.
04:01 So I think I already improved a bit because last year I wanted to say I'm going for a top 10.
04:08 Then I won.
04:09 So then I won and now I'm saying I'm hoping for a top three, which is I think fair play.
04:14 Because in my opinion, it's very difficult to say I will win this Grand Tour because a bad day is very easy to get.
04:23 Yeah, becoming ill or sick is also pretty easy and quick.
04:30 Having a crash can happen at every second of every stage.
04:35 So that's the reason why I say I want to go for the end podium and stage wins.
04:40 Because imagine if I have three or four stage wins, but I'm 12th or 10th in GC, then it's still a very good Vuelta.
04:47 So that's why I say hoping for a stage win and a top three spot is the main goal of the team, as we always have.
04:56 Is it also more difficult, given the field of what's now in Vuelta, if you look at last year?
05:05 Because now with Roglic, Winkledor, Almeida, Yusso, Mas, the only one who's missing perhaps is Pogacar.
05:12 But all the rest of the top guys are here in Spain this week.
05:16 Yeah, exactly.
05:17 But of course, also last year, there were a lot of those guys.
05:20 Some guys, they fell out with the COVID or had a crash.
05:23 So that's why I say it's difficult to predict the Grand Tour.
05:26 But for sure, I think it will be a very high level.
05:29 Everybody's riding on a high level.
05:32 Roglic just won Burgos.
05:35 Jonas is Jonas.
05:36 I became world champion.
05:38 Time trial.
05:39 So it also means I have a good shape.
05:41 The other guys are also doing very well in the last couple of weeks.
05:44 Vlasov is ready.
05:45 Almeida is always ready.
05:47 Ayuso, exactly the same.
05:49 So G, for sure, will also be ready.
05:52 Team Ineos, they will all be ready.
05:54 So it's going to be a very high level in the bunch.
05:58 But I think then with the heat and with the difficult course,
06:01 you can also expect for some guys to get out of the mix pretty soon.
06:08 Also, I think.
06:09 Thanks a lot.
06:10 Thank you.
06:12 Michael, please.
06:13 Yes, Remco, I'm wearing stylish black as you.
06:18 Dark blue.
06:20 Dark blue.
06:21 I have dark blue.
06:23 I wanted to talk about your love for Spain and the love of Spain for you.
06:29 You raced a lot in Spain.
06:31 What do you like so much about racing in Spain?
06:34 And second question is,
06:36 how are the Spanish people treating you different from fans in Belgium, in Italy?
06:42 First of all, I think, yeah,
06:46 there's just kind of a click with Spain that I just cannot explain.
06:51 I train a lot in the winter, as everybody knows.
06:54 A lot of altitude camps in Spain as well, like I did now in Andorra.
06:58 I know it's not Spain.
06:59 I shouldn't have said that.
07:01 But I've been training a lot in Spain, riding out of Andorra.
07:06 So it's just a country that I have kind of a click with.
07:10 I don't know, maybe the climbs, the roads, the descents,
07:14 everything suits me pretty well in Spain.
07:16 I like the characteristics of Spain.
07:18 It's always pretty brutal.
07:20 And it always invites to race on those roads.
07:25 So maybe that's something why I really like it.
07:29 And about the fans, I don't know.
07:31 It's a bit the same.
07:33 They're all quite excited when they see me.
07:36 Some don't even realize that it's me sometimes.
07:42 So I don't know.
07:43 It's a bit the same as everywhere.
07:44 But of course, I think Spanish fans,
07:46 they always have this kind of fire in them,
07:50 where they are super excited to watch the race or to see riders.
07:53 So yeah, I think that's a bit it.
07:56 Of course, there's a strategy.
07:58 It's a completely different TTT compared to last year.
08:03 It's pretty technical, but I will not do it alone.
08:09 We have very strong guys in the team.
08:11 Cataño, Baggioli, Pedersen and myself,
08:14 I think the four of us will be the big kind of motors in the team.
08:19 And the others just have to keep the pace and give us a rest.
08:22 So I think we have to look for the best setup or lineup, I have to say.
08:29 So the pace can always be very high.
08:32 But it will be pretty difficult to find that lineup.
08:37 But of course, we will see tomorrow and tonight,
08:42 maybe already what we will do with the lineup and the tactics and all of that.
08:47 But for sure, I will not ride alone on the front.
08:49 And about the team, what do you want to learn from yourself and from the team and this Vuelta?
08:59 I see also that the team is very different in comparison with next year in names.
09:08 Yes, about myself, probably kind of racing a bit more in defensive mode.
09:19 If you compare the Vuelta with last year, it's a bit the opposite.
09:24 The first week is already hard, but it's not going to be decisive.
09:28 So I expect the second week and the third week to have the most decisive stages.
09:36 So it's completely the opposite.
09:38 Then on the other hand, there are teams where you only see big names.
09:43 And they can really take all the pressure and workload on their shoulders.
09:48 So that's also something for us that we can ride a bit more defensive.
09:53 And just another three weeks.
09:57 Hopefully, a fully three weeks where I can just discover again how I'm doing in longer climbs.
10:05 Again, higher altitude climbs.
10:07 And against the best GC rider of the last few months with Jonas in the bunch.
10:17 I think and then Primoz.
10:18 I think those two just show always that they are there, whatever race it is.
10:22 So just comparing my level with their level.
10:25 And for the team, just learning again how to work together, creating a friendship,
10:32 a boundary and also just go through fire and through the wall for each other.
10:38 That's the most important for us this year or this next month.
10:42 So far in 2023, five riders, I mean you, Wingegaard, Pogacar, Roglic and Mathieu van der Poel.
10:55 I think showed a level really above all the other riders for results.
11:03 In your opinion, among these five riders, who has been so far the best for results in this season?
11:13 Who has impressed you the most?
11:16 I think in terms of numbers, it should be Pogacar because he has, what is it, 90 victories?
11:24 Something like this or 150?
11:26 No, I don't know.
11:28 16, 17 victories?
11:30 16, I think.
11:31 Yeah, so he's the most.
11:32 So I think in terms of results, he's number one.
11:37 But if we look at the quality of the results, I would say it's Mathieu because two monuments,
11:43 world champion, second in Flanders, second in E3.
11:50 So if you see those results, it's pretty phenomenal as well.
11:55 But then also Primoz, he won every race he started.
11:58 So that was a difficult question, Chiro, come on.
12:02 I know, I know, I know.
12:04 I'm here for this, I mean.
12:06 This question is a difficult question.
12:08 But I think if we speak in terms of regularity, it's going to be Primoz because he just won every race he started.
12:16 And it has all been world tour except for Burgos.
12:20 But I think the most impressive victories is probably Van Der Poel, in my opinion.
12:26 But then, of course, Pogacar also wins everything and Wijnegaard wins Dauphine Tour.
12:31 So it's too difficult to answer.
12:34 But they are all impressive in their way.
12:36 But I think Mathieu is probably the most impressive one for this year.
12:41 After me.
12:42 No, no.
12:43 No, no, no.
12:45 Mathieu is number one, yes.
12:47 Well, the Spanish is going OK.
12:51 The Arabic language is going a bit less OK.
12:55 It's pretty difficult.
12:57 But I start to learn some words, more or less, to say.
13:03 But in Spanish I can say a small sentence like "Habla un poquito español".
13:09 No mucho, pero un poquito.
13:12 But in Arabic I cannot say this, unfortunately.
13:16 Thank you, Fran.
13:20 Iori, please.
13:21 Muy bueno, Remco.
13:24 That was super Dutch.
13:27 Remco, given the fact that you obviously won the Vuelta last year,
13:34 you came in first place, I think, after stage six.
13:40 And you stayed in the leader's jersey for the whole Vuelta.
13:43 I know it's always easy for us as journalists to say
13:47 you perhaps don't want the jersey that early in the Grand Tour.
13:52 But is it something that you take with you?
13:55 Like, if you have the choice, you would get the leader's jersey perhaps a bit later
14:00 because all the things you have to do, like press conference, like podium ceremonies.
14:05 Is there something like that that you, if the possibility is there,
14:09 could choose, then you would have the leader's jersey perhaps a little bit later in the Grand Tour?
14:14 Yes, actually, yes.
14:17 I think it wouldn't be a lie if I say that in the first nine days
14:22 we would not like to have the leader's jersey.
14:25 And if by accident we get it, to try to give it away as fast and as easy as possible to a rider.
14:37 Which shouldn't be the most dangerous one for the final GC.
14:41 But of course, yeah, a leader's jersey is a leader's jersey.
14:45 So you also want to try and enjoy it.
14:49 But I think it's fair if I say that the first nine days
14:53 we're not super, super interested to take the red jersey.
14:57 And then just one question further.
15:00 You also are a contender for the best young rider's jersey,
15:05 which also makes the same.
15:07 You also have to do a press conference, mix on everything.
15:09 In the Giro, you gave away the jersey to Lacknessund, I think,
15:13 who was also in the young riders classification.
15:16 Can you pick a rider who could be then also taking the white jersey?
15:22 Because then you don't have any responsibilities afterwards.
15:25 Yeah, true. I think this is something you have to see during the race.
15:29 If Klaas and Geert and Ilio get the names of the leaders
15:34 and we see that somebody that can take the jersey
15:37 and even the white jersey is in, then that's good.
15:41 If it's not, then it's just a situation and we have to deal with it.
15:44 But of course, I'm not very sure that the white jersey
15:49 has all the same obligations as the red.
15:51 But of course, yeah, it's very difficult to discuss about this now.
15:57 But I think we just have to see in the situation about that,
16:00 especially for the white jersey.
16:03 Thanks.
16:04 OK, we're going to take the last two or three questions now.
16:07 We'll go back to Burnley with George.
16:09 Yeah, well, first off, Remco, I do believe that if Phil hadn't interjected,
16:13 you would have guessed that it was Burnley.
16:15 I do believe that.
16:16 I really wanted to say Burnley.
16:19 There we are.
16:20 It looks a bit like the logo, like now.
16:22 Yeah, absolutely. It's a bit older. It's 2005, so when we were a bit younger.
16:26 But as for my question, I think the tendency when someone like Jonas
16:31 is announced the start of the Vuelta is to say it's a bad thing for Remco
16:34 because the Tour de France champion, it's another rival.
16:37 Is there a part of you that likes when big riders like Jonas,
16:41 obviously Geraint Thomas, you're coming up against them again in Spain?
16:44 Is there a part of you that enjoys that because, as you've already alluded to,
16:47 you get to test yourself against the best in the world?
16:50 Yeah, exactly.
16:52 And also, you can steal with your eyes, you know.
16:55 It's like he knows how to win the Tour de France,
16:58 so he probably also knows how to win this Vuelta.
17:00 So it's a bit of trying to copy as much as possible
17:05 and take it in my backpack to next year's Tour.
17:08 And also just during the next three weeks and during, I don't know,
17:11 one week road to races of next year.
17:14 So it's just something exciting, actually.
17:19 I raced him a few times, not too many times.
17:23 So yeah, I think it's only a good thing for the bunch,
17:28 for cycling, for the Vuelta, for himself, for everybody.
17:32 So it's always a big challenge when you see a big name like that at the start line.
17:37 And yeah, I'm happy that he's here.
17:40 que c'est ici.