Tour de France, Evenepoel: "I want the yellow jersey in the team time trial."

What will Remco Evenepoel 's role be in this Tour de France ? Many are wondering whether he'll be able to finish in the overall standings or even fight for the podium, or whether he'll go after stages. The Belgian spoke about precisely this on the eve of the Grande Boucle : "I want to win a stage, we want to win the team time trial and take the yellow jersey with the team," he said. "But you, of course, want me to say I'd like to be on the podium, and for Florian to say the same. Of course, we want to be on the podium, but whether it's him or me... If we do it the right way, without negative energy, then it's good for both of us and for the team. We've already both been on the podium, alongside Pogačar and Vingegaard. We always want to be there in this Tour, together, so we can then aim for stage wins as well."

Evenepoel will have Florian Lipowitz , third last year, in his team, but how will he coexist with the other Red Bull Bora captain?

We're different, and that's precisely why we have nothing to learn from each other. Right? I find that a bit of a strange question. We're still ourselves, and that's why we have two captains: we both do our own thing, in our own way and with our own personalities. I'm happy with who I am; I don't want to change, and Lipo won't want to change that aspect of himself either.

Remco said he's coming into this Tour in great shape and has lost four kilos , thanks in part to the work he's done with his new coach , Tim Heemskerk, a former collaborator of Jonas Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike: "I have a new coach who has been monitoring everything closely and keeping everything under control in terms of power. I'm happy with where I am."

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency