Remco Evenepoel advised not to attempt the Giro-Tour double: 'It would go over badly with the media'
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Follow us on GoogleThe Giro d'Italia route will have given many stage racers a lot to think about today. With a few time trial kilometers and seven mountain finishes, the organisers are certainly trying to attract the big names. The question is: will it work? Former Belgian pro Jan Bakelants advises Remco Evenepoel against competing at the Tour of Italy.
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The time trials in both the Tour and the Giro will suit Evenepoel
The 2027 Giro d'Italia route is appealing to many riders
In 2027, the Giro d'Italia will feature a finish on Monte Zoncolan and a stage passing through the legendary Gavia.
There will also be two time trials, though one is a mountain time trial. The other time trial, however, is completely flat—and a whopping 37 kilometers long. Perfect for Evenepoel, right? Yes, but Bakelants explains to Het Laatste Nieuws why he shouldn’t let his head be turned.
Sure, that time trial will be tempting. But looking at the Tour de France route, Bakelants knows enough. “Remco will be given a clear opportunity in 2027 starting from Tourhoek,” says the former pro cyclist.
“It would be very strange indeed not to unwrap this gift with a golden bow 100% and try to get the most out of it.”
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Can the Giro Tour double still be done in 2027?
But of course, one doesn’t rule out the other. Jonas Vingegaard rode both the Giro and the Tour last year. But doing both this year would be a bad move, says Bakelants.
“Riding the Giro—even if it’s in combination with the Tour—could be seen in this case as a hidden fear of failure. And as a deviation from Plan A. As if he doesn’t have confidence in advance that he can succeed in July. So I would be very surprised if he were to put the Giro on his schedule.”
Read more below the photo!
Should Remco Evenepoel ride the Giro d'Italia?
The Giro-Tour double has historically been difficult
Moreover, winning both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year is a feat achieved by very few.
Tadej Pogačar did it in 2024. The Slovenian was the first to do so since Marco Pantani in 1998. Miguel Indurain (1992 and 1993) and Stephen Roche (1987) also achieved this feat. “
So these are exceptions. Although it might have been possible for Jonas Vingegaard as well, had he not been racing in the Pogačar era.”
Bakelants calls the Giro Tour double an 'incompatible combination'
Bakelants rode 15 Grand Tours himself, but never completed the Giro-Tour double.
“Because even back then, it was considered a very difficult, incompatible combination. Most of those who tried it were brought back down to earth by reality and, after ten days of the Tour, inevitably hit a wall. Somehow, the Giro-Vuelta or even the Tour-Vuelta worked out much better.”- Jan Bakelants
Some huge names have failed at the Giro Tour double
Other riders who attempted the double were less successful in the Tour. Contador won the Giro in 2015 but fell short in the summer.
Chris Froome took the pink jersey in 2018 but finished third in France. Tom Dumoulin tried the same thing that year, but had to concede defeat to the Brit in Italy.
In the Tour, he finished ahead of him, but behind his teammate Geraint Thomas.
Read more below the photo!
Remco Evenepoel finished second in the Tour de France.
Bakelants warns Evenepoel: 'It would go over badly with the media'
So is it completely impossible?
“The stages are a bit shorter these days, but whether that makes a big difference… Especially for the riders of the current generation we’re looking forward to—Remco is one of them—it’s become twice as difficult,” said Bakelants.
“Because so much depends on that Tour.” And as this year’s runner-up, Evenepoel wants to see if winning is actually within reach.
With a customized race schedule, 2027 will be a crucial year for the Belgian rider from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. And using the Giro d’Italia as preparation probably won’t be a good idea.
“Showing up there with the excuse, ‘I’m tired because I’ve already got the Giro under my belt,’ would go over very badly with the media. ‘Poor planning,’ we’d say.”
Evenepoel actually seems to benefit from having few races leading up to the Tour de France. He proved that this year, when—after a long spring—he decided to focus on training for more than two months. It earned him two stage wins and the silver medal in Paris.
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David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026
- Is the Valdigne time trial uphill all the way, or are there flatter sections too? I’m still figuring out how these stages work.jennifer1903-11-2026
- Three sprint chances, then all that climbing? The GC battle should really take shape after Passo San Marco. Can’t wait!robert6503-11-2026
- Finishing on the same day the men race Stage 20 is a nice touch, but I hope the women’s race gets plenty of coverage too.pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Three mountain finishes and an uphill time trial—this route looks tailor-made for Vollering. That final stage to Mont Blanc could be brutal.cadencekingm03-11-2026
- Seixas has said he’s bored with the transfer talk, so maybe the article could give more space to the racing itself. He’s under contract until 2027; there’s no need to turn every appearance into a signing saga.velodromevirtuoso103-11-2026