Soudal-QuickStep have introduced the crew that may flank Remco Evenepoel in his defence of his Vuelta a España title. Louis Vervaeke, Jan Hirt, Pieter Serry and Mattia Cattaneo are retained from the crew that accompanied Evenepoel to the Giro d’Italia in Could, with James Knox, Casper Pedersen and Andrea Bagioli finishing the line-up.
Evenepoel claimed the general title eventually yr’s Vuelta and he claimed an early lead at this season’s Giro solely to be compelled out of the race after stage 9 whereas sporting the maglia rosa of race chief.
The Vuelta will mark Evenepoel’s first outing within the Belgian street champion’s jersey, which he gained in June, in addition to his first race within the rainbow skinsuit of world time trial champion. The race will get underway in Barcelona on Saturday with a crew time trial.
“It will likely be fairly particular to return at La Vuelta with bib primary on my again and the attractive Belgian Champion jersey on my shoulders, in what will likely be my first outing since conquering it in late June,” Evenepoel mentioned in an announcement launched by his crew on Monday.
“Spain is considered one of my favorite international locations, I’ve at all times felt good and had lots of success there, and hopefully the development will proceed over the subsequent weeks. In the event you look over the course and the beginning listing, you’ll be able to see it’s going to be a really robust race, however I had a great preparation and might depend on a robust squad, so I’ve lots of confidence and motivation forward of the numerous challenges that may come.”
Evenepoel mimicked his 2022 Vuelta build-up by racing the Tour de Suisse this summer time forward of altitude camp after which successful the Clásica San Sebastián. The Belgian will face fierce competitors for the maillot rojo this trip, with Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard and Giro d’Italia champion Primož Roglič main a dual-pronged problem from Jumbo-Visma.
“Now we have a well-balanced crew for this final Grand Tour of the yr, comprising robust guys for the climbs, but additionally riders who can defend Remco on the flat and put him in a great place forward of the climbs,” mentioned Soudal-QuickStep directeur sportif Klaas Lodewyck.
“We hope to have a great begin in Barcelona, then we’ll proceed taking it daily and see how issues pan out, particularly as after the primary couple of levels we’ll know extra about our kind and that of our opponents. We’re motivated and searching ahead to what we hope will likely be three robust weeks in Spain.”