Interview | Jan Hirt explains Giro roles for Evenepoel: "Van Wilder goes first, I'm at my best in the third week"

We haven't seen him in action in recent weeks, but somewhere on a mountain in Colombia, Jan Hirt is preparing to be the luxury servant of Remco Evenepoel during the upcoming Giro d'Italia. The 32-year-old Czech was recruited to Soudal-Quick Step last winter for that exact reason and IDLProCycling.com found a moment to chat extensively with Hirt about racing for The Wolfpack, riding for Evenepoel and going on a high-altitude training camp to become better than ever.

We call Hirt at 4:00 p.m., because that translates to morning in Colombia. He has rolled out of bed, has had breakfast and is ready for another day of climbing in South America. "I didn't have a race program in April, so I was going to do altitude training anyway. I could have chosen to join the team to altitude for the first two weeks of April, and then go somewhere else on my own. However, it was easier to go to Colombia for a whole month. I had been there three times before and often perform well after such a period. For me, a high-altitude training camp is really important, I'm truly a different rider when I come back down from altitude," he explains his solitary preparation for the Giro.

Last year, Hirt was still riding around in Colombia with a Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert jersey on his shoulders, now he does so in the blue and white colors of Soudal-Quick Step. A transfer that was sealed early in 2022. "We got in touch with each other during last year's Giro and we agreed pretty quickly that this would be the right move for me. We made the decision early on, as I always wanted to ride for Quick Step. Whoever comes here to race usually performs better. I wanted to experience that too," said Hirt, who - in case team boss Patrick Lefevere had any doubts left - last year in the Giro won a stage and finished sixth in the overall classification.

It was Hirt's big breakthrough in a grand tour, although he would have joined Quick Step even without that great Tour of Italy. During his first few months with the team, he received confirmation of what he had previously observed from the outside. "There is a lot of motivation here, a true winning culture. That also gives you more motivation. We start every race to win, that is the most important difference with my previous teams. My first training camp with the team was great. We had a lot to do, not only on but also off the bike. From there onwards, the focus quickly shifted to preparation and racing. Everything is perfect here."

Apart from all his other teammates at Soudal-Quick Step, Hirt was obviously mainly focused on Evenepoel. The Belgian world champion won last year's Vuelta in Spain and if he wants to win more grand tours in the future, one thing was clear: he needs helpers. Hirt had ridden for himself at Intermarché, but was open to such a role. "We didn't really talk specifically about my role within the team when I transferred. I came here to help Remco in the mountains as long as possible," says Hirt.

During his first months, the Czech obviously often rode with his team leader. A high-altitude training camp in December, the Vuelta a San Juan in January, another high-altitude training camp in February and finally the Tour of Catalonia in March. He got to know Evenepoel well. "He's a nice guy and the epitome of motivation. Remco always wants to win, everywhere and anytime and he's also very focused off the bike. But he's also a funny guy, he has a sense of humor. Did he surprise me as a person? No, not really. I didn't expect him to be a nasty guy, so that worked out well."

After the Tour of Catalonia, Evenepoel and Hirt went their separate ways. The Belgian went on a high-altitude training camp with some teammates and then successfully defended his title in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Hirt was in Colombia from the first week of April onwards. "We keep in touch through social media now and then, but not daily," he describes his contact with Evenepoel. "I hope the connection is still as good as before, haha. We've spent a lot of time together. I feel like I know him well enough, yeah."

According to Hirt, knowing each other inside and out is not necessary. "It's not like we have to be synchronized like a sprint train in the mountains. It's mainly about 'faster' or 'slower', and less about tactics and positioning like in a leadout. If you're a helper in the mountains, it's all about fitness. In a sprint train, you'll need to know each other a bit better to really feel each other out. Good legs ultimately prevail uphill. Even if you've known each other for ten years, if you don't have good legs - you can't really help him."

Listening to Hirt, one hears a down-to-earth man who, at 32, no longer lets himself be tempted by crazy things. "I'm going to do my utmost for him and try to win the Giro with him," he replies dryly. "We'll see," also often comes up. Wearing a different jersey hasn't changed much about his training. "I train a bit differently in terms of the composition of the intervals. However, not much has changed. I follow my coach's program; you can't win much more than that. Everyone trains in a professional way these days. It all ultimately comes down to weight and I'm a bit lighter than last year."

2022 was undoubtedly Hirt's most successful year, which saw him not only perform well in the Giro but also win a stage and the overall classification in the Tour of Oman. With last year's form, he believes he can help Evenepoel go a long way. "Last year, I surprised some people; I was able to keep up with the best in the third week. I don't know how good I can be compared to the others; we'll have to see. Normally, I'm at my best in the last week, as has always been the case in grand tours. I spoke with my coach, and the numbers and feeling are better than last year for the Giro. In the race, things can be different and it's up to me to translate that feeling into actual results. I expect to be a bit better during every new grand tour in my career and, so far, that seems to be the case."

That's great news for Evenepoel, who already has an excellent team surrounding him at Quick Step. Ilan Van Wilder and Louis Vervaeke impressed on the climbs in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Hirt will join them in the Giro. "We haven't discussed the roles yet. So far, Ilan has had a good season, so I expect him to be better than me in the first part of the Giro. In that case, he will be the last man for Remco. Towards the third week, I hope to get better and then I would like to be the last man. But ultimately, it doesn't matter who it is, as long as someone stays with him as long as possible."

Hirt also takes other scenarios into account. It is not a given that Quick Step will take control of the race from day one. Maybe the Belgian team will play things differently. "We're going to the Giro with one goal and that's to win. Roglic is the most dangerous opponent; in principle, he and Remco are above the rest. The most important thing will be to not encounter any problems - then they can really have a battle. They are all in top shape and well-rounded, and a single mistake could decide the race. In the Giro, the situation will determine how I will race. Maybe I will have to attack early to create a good scenario for Remco. But maybe we will have to be on the defense and I'll have to stay with him as long as possible."

Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg )