© BELGA
Don’t worry: Remco Evenepoel will be flying business class from Madrid to Australia on Monday. Just like Wout van Aert, that other Belgian World Cup leader, is from Canada. National coach Sven Vanthornhout is also convinced there will be no easing of pressure on Evenpoel after his victory in Volta. Jet lag doesn’t worry him too much, either. “Our best players are exceptionally strong in this field as well.”
Werner Borliz
Sven Fanthornhout leaves Zaventem for Dubai on Monday afternoon with Yves Lambert. There they will meet Remco Evenepoel, after which the plane will be taken to Sydney. Evenepoel fly in business class. “For others, we’re looking at what’s possible,” the national coach says. “Perhaps Lambert can get a promotion in Brussels. In principle, this was expected by everyone, but suddenly prices rose. That is no longer possible.”
Van Aert will also fly on a business trip from Canada to Australia on Monday. Although he only has to take action in a road race in two weeks. Evenepoel should start the singles time trial on Sunday. And that’s a week after his overall victory in Volta. “There is always a risk of decompression, but Remco is someone who is always focused on himself,” Vanthourenhout says. “He wants to follow his goals and the World Cup is a big goal. Of course we will try to make him start at the start as comfortably as possible. We will protect him and give him a rest. His team will do that too after the World Cup. Vuelta will require a lot of energy, there is no other way. But I am sure Remko will lead With full focus on the World Cup. Nobody knows if he will still be at the top. But he will do everything he can.”
Time difference
The question is whether the long journey to Australia will creep. Evenepoel doesn’t have much time until Sunday to get used to jet lag. The delay is eight hours. “This is going to hurt for a while, but I don’t expect any problems,” says the national coach. “I have already proven from experience that the top guys are exceptional in this field as well. Last year, the madness for riding an Olympic road race was announced by Wout van Aert a week after three weeks into the Tour. But he was better than ever and took the silver. So. : That would be good.
Zombie specialist. Friendly twitter guru. Internet buff. Organizer. Coffee trailblazer. Lifelong problem solver. Certified travel enthusiast. Alcohol geek.