Giro d’Italia was Remco Evenepoel’s ‘first defeat,’ says Patrick Lefevere
Evenepoel went into the Giro as one of the favourites despite a lack of racing due to injury


The Giro d’Italia 2021 was Remco Evenepoel’s first real defeat, according to his team boss Patrick Lefevere.
Deceuninck - Quick-Step’s rising star Evenepoel went into this year’s Giro as one of the pre-race favourites, despite not having raced for nine months due to the serious injuries he suffered in a crash at Il Lombardia 2020.
After flying high in the first week, the 21-year-old began to lose time in the second week before he was forced to abandon the race after he was caught in a crash on stage 17.
In an interview with Italian website Bici.Focus, Deceuninck manager Patrick Lefevere said: “It is a fact, however, that that boy had never lost . He won everything as a junior and his first two years as a professional were also full of victories.
“This Giro was his first defeat.”
Evenepoel made his WorldTour debut with Belgian squad Deceuninck - Quick-Step in 2019, having dominated the junior ranks.
In his first season at the highest level, Evenepoel won five times, including the Belgium Tour overall, the Clásica San Sebastian and the European Time Trial Championships.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Then into 2020, the Belgian star won all four stage races he entered, before he crashed out of Il Lombardia, which forced him to sit out the rest of the season.
Evenepoel made his comeback at the 2021 Giro, starting with a top-10 finish in the opening time trial and jumping into second place after stage six.
But after losing time on the brutal gravel stage to Montalcino on stage 11, Evenepoel continued to slip down the leaderboard, eventually losing an hour before he was forced to retire from the race.
Lefevere said: “Of course we had hoped for the best, but I never said he would win the Giro . We went along with his wishes, but I'm not that crazy. We knew that the Montalcino stage, after the Lombardy accident, would be a key step . Remco could not start the Giro in a normal way.
“We cannot judge him by what we have seen.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
UAE Emirates-XRG on top as Primož Roglič falters - the winners and losers of the Giro d’Italia first week
Roglič and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe left with work to do as UAE dominate the top ten in the general classification
-
Save time, save money and get fit with Green Commute Initiative
Switching to cycling can transform your commute into an enjoyable and rewarding way to start and end your day. Imagine swapping bumper-to-bumper traffic for an invigorating bike ride that gets you moving and leaves you feeling energised.
-
Wout van Aert wins sensational Giro d'Italia stage nine over the gravel as Isaac Del Toro moves into pink
Exhilarating stage saw Primož Roglič and Tom Pidcock lose time after a crash on the strade bianche
-
‘An indescribable emotion’ - Italian veteran Diego Ulissi seals dream to wear pink on home roads during Giro d'Italia gravel stage
The XDS-Astana rider took over the pink jersey from Primož Roglič on stage 8
-
Luke Plapp solos to win action-packed Giro d'Italia stage 8 as Ulissi steals pink from Roglič
Australian plays his tactics perfectly on an attacking day through the Apennines
-
'When everyone starts to panic, you just need to breathe deeply': Fearless approach key to success on Giro d’Italia gravel stage
Pello Bilbao expects Strade Bianche-style stage on Sunday to be both a physical and mental challenge
-
Kaden Groves wins crash-marred Giro d’Italia stage 6 in Naples
Australian comes out on top in bunch sprint after chaotic day in Italy
-
Giro d'Italia stage 6 neutralised after huge crash, Jai Hindley abandons
Slippery roads lead to pile-up on road to Naples
-
'Truly incredible' - Mads Pedersen springs to hat-trick win on Giro d'Italia stage 5
Lidl-Trek rider extends pink jersey lead in Matera with third win in five days
-
Casper van Uden sprints to victory in unusual TT helmet on Giro d'Italia stage 4
Dutchman beats Olav Kooij and Mads Pedersen in bunch kick in Lecce