Remco Evenepoel is preparing for a new chapter in his career. After seven seasons with Soudal Quick-Step, he is leaving the familiar environment for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. It is a good choice, according to Philippe Gilbert. “It was time. After six or seven years, it's healthy to step out of your comfort zone,” says the Walloon in Le Soir.
“This is exactly what Remco needs to grow,” continues Gilbert, who believes Evenepoel will have better support at Red Bull. “The financial resources are on a completely different level. And I'm not talking about his salary, but about the opportunities in research, development, training camps, quality of support, and so on. He will have a stronger and richer technical and technological foundation – exactly what he needs to make progress.”
Tactical Progress
Gilbert also sees progress within the team structure. “At Quick-Step, he surrounded himself with people who always agreed with him. At Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, he will have to earn his place again. (...) He will be confronted with team leaders who dare to impose choices on him. That’s exactly what he needs to take a step forward.” He recognizes himself in Evenepoel’s move: “I did the same when I moved from Française des Jeux to Lotto after six years. I put myself in a difficult position, and that made me stronger.”
The transfer is, according to Gilbert, also a tactical improvement. “Red Bull is not the team that dominates everything, but tactically they are very strong. That has been missing for Remco until now,” he says. “If he takes the yellow jersey, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe has riders who can defend him all the way to Paris. That simply wasn’t the case at Quick-Step.”
Pogacar and Vingegaard
Finally, Gilbert remains realistic about the chances in the Tour. “There are no miracles: Pogacar and Vingegaard are still hard to beat. But the day one of them eases off, Remco will be ready to take over. This is a necessary step in that direction.”
