Remco Evenepoel will race for the primary time since his Itzulia Basque Country crash on the Critérium du Dauphiné, utilizing the week-long French stage race to check his health and as an important stepping stone in the direction of the Tour de France.
The 24-year-old Belgian leads a Soudal Quick-Step workforce that features lots of the riders who will assist him in July as he makes his Tour de France debut and targets total success.
Neo-pro Antoine Huby, James Knox, Mikel Landa, Gianni Moscon, Casper Pedersen and Ilan Van Wilder will experience in assist of Evenepoel on the Dauphiné, which runs June 2-9.
Evenepoel just lately hung out coaching at altitude in Sierra Nevada within the south of Spain. He wanted surgical procedure to repair his damaged collarbone however was quickly again in coaching after the Itzulia Basque Country crash. However, he isn’t but at his finest and so performed down his total ambitions for the Critérium du Dauphiné.
“I’m trying ahead to returning to racing. I’m in a great place after the crash in Itzulia and the accidents I sustained there however there may be nonetheless some work to take action I get again to my high form,” Evenepoel mentioned as Soudal-QuickStep confirmed their line-up for the French stage race.
“I’m glad to find the Dauphiné, however I’ll look much less in the direction of my normal classification place, as this will likely be extra an opportunity to return to the race rhythm and see the place I’m at.”
The 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné begnis on Sunday June 2 and ends per week later. The race begins within the Allier division after which heads east into the Alps, with a trio of summit finishes on the Collet d’Allevard, Samoëns 1600 after which the Plateau des Glières finale.
There’s a rising 34.4km time trial on stage 4 and two phases earmarked for sprinters on stage 1 and 5, however the Dauphiné peloton is ready to face per week of climbing.
The Dauphiné would be the final essential check earlier than this summer season’s Tour de France, which begins in a month in Florence, Italy. Evenepoel is predicted to then return to altitude and race the Belgian National Championships earlier than heading to the Tour de France.
“The many summit finishes will likely be essential, as they may give us the prospect to see the place Remco stands at this level within the season,” mentioned Soudal-QuickStep directeur sportif Tom Steels.
“We additionally need to uncover how he’ll fare within the time trial, which will likely be his first since that harm. It’s going to be a tough race, with a demanding course total and a tricky weekend.
“The confidence is there, the workforce is superb, consisting primarily of robust and skilled riders, however the plan is to take it someday at a time as we all know we nonetheless have some development to make.”
