Vanthourenhout still believes in Tour victory for Evenepoel, who is joking around at training camp

With the arrival of Evenepoel, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe brought in a true star—in every sense of the word. The question quickly arose: will the world time trial champion immediately change the atmosphere? Vanthourenhout also wondered about this in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws. "When Remco signed, many wondered: who is he really? How will he behave here? Like an island within the team? Or will he integrate smoothly?"

"The reality is that Remco immediately opened up enormously. In his typical way. By showing genuine interest in so many things. In the team’s WhatsApp groups, he’s invariably one of the first to post something or respond. Even the ‘Rookies’ (development team, ed.) and juniors get congratulations from him when they win. And he also regularly sends messages to soigneurs, mechanics, physios, the team manager... He’s already won a lot of hearts that way."

There were rumors, but Evenepoel won’t be riding the Tour of Flanders this year. Red Bull doesn’t have a true team leader, but couldn’t the Belgian be that person? “We have a broad, strong group. But of course, we could really use someone of the caliber of Van der Poel, Pogacar, Pedersen, or Seixas,” Vanthourenhout acknowledges. “That automatically brings you to Remco.”

The fact is that the two-time Olympic champion has already won many major one-day races. He did win the 2022 Vuelta a España, but it seems increasingly likely that he will find his true calling in the classics. The belief that he would one day win the Tour de France is therefore fading. Vanthourenhout understands that.

“Gosh, I get the doubts about Evenepoel as a Grand Tour rider. But he has already won the Vuelta, you know. And without that COVID flare-up, that might well have been the case with the Giro too. So if you ask me today whether he can win the Tour as well: yes. I think we have to keep believing in that. Because one day, at the right moment, we might just get the very best version of Remco, whereas that might not be the case with his major rivals.'

Is he really a better one-day rider than a Grand Tour rider? 'Of course, his list of achievements already hints at that. And there are still many major one-day races he can and will win. But at the same time, he continues to cherish that Tour dream. Even though he realizes it will be an enormous challenge. That he won’t succeed “just like that.” It’s his temperament, and you have to respect him for that, because that’s precisely where his great strength may lie.'

Whether it’s the classics or the Tour de France, Evenepoel gives it his all. For now, there are no races on the horizon for the Belgian, who is currently at an altitude training camp in Tenerife. It’s hard work, but there’s also time for a bit of fun. Together with his cousin and mechanic Dario Kloeck, Evenepoel is recording a “report” on daily life on the island, complete with a fantastic accent.