Maxime, Mathieu, Remco Evenepoel will inevitably be the epicenter of your attention during these three weeks. Should we expect a unique duel with Primoz Roglic?
Maxime : Yes, I think there are two favourites, Remco and Roglic. The other names are immediately below. There are a host of them but they themselves are, in my opinion, aware that it will be complicated if the two previously mentioned are at their level. From what we’ve seen since the start of the season, it’s really Primoz on one side and Remco on the other. I think everyone is hoping for a good duel and for Remco to emerge. Afterwards, fortunately, it’s still a bike race, three difficult weeks with mountains. A very big duel is announced, perhaps even one of the biggest of recent years. That said, we were also expecting a duel in Liège-Bastogne-Liège…
Mathieu : And then, there is a parameter to take into account, it is the management of the high mountains. This is perhaps the only small weak point that we could find in Remco. Finally, if we dare to speak of a weak point. Because if you look at the Vuelta last year, on the Sierra Nevada stages, at very high altitude, yes he was losing time… but he was managing perfectly well. And then, there are more than seventy kilometers of chrono, too…
Maxime : But Roglic is doing well in the clock too.
Yes, he is still the Olympic champion in the discipline…
Maxime : It’s going to be super interesting from the first stage with a fast time but ending uphill. We will already have the two in the first places from the start. What a good way to start the three weeks.
There are two slightly different approaches. On the one hand, the Belgian who has just won Liège and who is a little on his cloud. On the other a Jumbo team playing another game with Primoz Roglic who has been on his volcano lately. On the one hand one who took the light, on the other, an assumed discretion?
Mathieu : Yes, but he knows himself, Roglic.
Maxime : We must not forget that, a month ago, who won the Tour of Catalonia, and ahead of whom? (Editor’s note: The Slovenian in front of the world champion) So, yes, Remco is great, he is in the spotlight, but the Slovenian knows what he is doing too.
Mathieu : Roglic, he is 33 years old, it is really a generational conflict between an old man who knows each other by heart and Remco who knows each other and who has a team around him. What I mean is that he learned to endear himself to his teammates. We feel that there is an emulation. When you win, it makes things easier… We are team Remco, on RTL. We will be chauvinistic, we are not going to say the opposite, we hope for a success from Remco Evenepoel!
At the collective level precisely, there are groups in front of them that are solidly armed to make life difficult in Soudal-Quick-Step. The Jumbo and Ineos block, with on one side Geraint Thomas who won the Tour de France and on the other Tao Geoghegan Hart, a former winner of the Giro. What to manhandle the Belgian team?
Maxime : Yes, clearly, the Jumbo group is very strong. There will also be Sepp Kuss, who has no personal ambitions but who on certain days has a level equivalent to the great leaders. So it’s an important weapon for them. The Ineos group is very strong collectively but individually, they are nothing below. But maybe they can influence the race when it comes down to it tactically.
On this Giro, there are seven mountain stages. Including the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Crans-Montana. Stages that Remco should fear or, on the contrary, which should excite it?
Mathieu : He is a man of challenges, Remco. He pointed them out like us, these stages. So, I don’t think that on paper, it scares him but we will have to see the realities of the day.
Maxime : Absolutely, the pink jersey, at the end of the three weeks, will necessarily have been present at the Tre Cime and in Switzerland. These two stages will be legendary and extremely difficult. I think Remco goes there with more confidence than apprehension.
To conclude, if you had to point out a weakness of Remco…
Maxime : I would say that he is perhaps at times too enthusiastic. This is my outside opinion. And his enthusiasm can sometimes cause him to make mistakes.
Mathieu : Yes, but I want to say that his enthusiasm is also his strength. I honestly think he’s a fearless guy. That’s why we’ve already had some great times with him… And we’re not at the end of our surprises… even if it’s not really a surprise anymore, this Giro, as we’ve been waiting for it. We hope that it will be a “chronicle of an announced victory” on May 28 in Rome.