Evenepoel: 'Best rider in the world' Pogacar is the one man who can complete Giro-Tour double

Remco Evenepoel thinks that Tadej Pogacar is the one man able to complete the Tour de France double with the Giro d’Italia and is “the best rider in the world”.

Evenepoel had enjoyed a relatively promising start to the season until that point, winning the Volta ao Algarve and Figueira Champions Classic, and coming second at Paris-Nice.

At a virtual press conference, the 24-year-old said that he thought Pogacar’s team would provide the squad with the best chance to succeed in France.

“I think all pressure will be on Team UAE for sure,” Evenepoel said. “If you see how Tadej was racing in a very impressive way in the Giro, and with all their co-leaders coming in their team as well for the Tour, I think they have the men to beat and they are the team to beat.”

Given the scale of victory for Pogacar at the Giro – almost 10 minutes clear – Evenepoel thinks that the Slovenian is probably the only rider who is able to pull off the double, and that coming second behind him is a kind of success in itself.

“I think especially for myself and for my team, there’s no big pressure. I think all the pressure is on the other teams. We will have to try to follow – I think if you can follow Tadej one day, I think it’s going to be like a victory,” he said.

“We’ll have to see – maybe he’s already gonna attack the first day, win the stage with five minutes and then the GC is over again. He’s a special guy – the best rider in the world, so you never know with him.

“It’s a big question for everybody how he’s going to recover after the Giro, but I think he did a great race and he will be ready for the Tour, that’s for sure. So it wouldn’t surprise me if he wins the Tour de France after winning the Giro.

“If there’s a guy that can do it, it’s going to be Pogi,”. Evenepoel said his Giro triumph “was actually very impressive to watch – amazing to watch, sometimes boring to watch as well, because the race was done with 60k to go, so to speak.”

He also noted that reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) was also a strong contender, having won both the 2022 and 2023 editions.

He continued: “Next to that is Jonas, of course, because Jonas is the back-to-back Tour de France champion.”

Evenepoel also discussed his chances of succeeding at the Criterium, which he is using as a chance to develop his fitness ahead of his debut tilt at the Tour de France.

Instead of looking to compete, he will be aiming to support his team-mates Mikel Landa and Ilan van Wilder.

The 2022 Vuelta a Espana champion said he would “see where the shape is at for the moment” but added “no specific targets in terms of results or expectations.

“I think we have two guys in good shape here with Ilan and Landa, and if I have the chance I will try to support them as much as possible. But for myself there are no big expectations, just get into the rhythm again, and to try to get out of this race in a better shape than I will go into it – then it will be a successful week for me.”

He also told journalists that he had to overcome some fear when he attempted descents as he got used to being on his bike after his accident.

“The first days in Sierra Nevada, it was still a bit stiff descending,” Evenepoel conceded. “Not feeling super comfortable on the bike, but I think every day it got better and better and I think the scariest feelings are gone, that’s good.

“The injuries are still a bit uncomfortable … it’s still a bit strange in the scapula sometimes, especially on a TT bike when there’s a lot of pressure coming onto my shoulder. So it’s a bit strange, but I think it should be good enough to race and also good enough to take risks again.”