Remco Evenepoel to make Monument debut at Il Lombardia
The ambitious young Belgian says he will try to arrive in Italy in 'peak condition'

Remco Evenepoel will make his Monument debut at Il Lombardia, his Deceuninck - Quick-Step team have revealed.
The 20-year-old Belgian will be on the start line for the Italian one-day race on August 15, which will be his third UCI race back after the coronavirus break.
Evenepoel will first be part of Deceuninck - Quick-Step's Vuelta a Burgos squad, starting on July 28, before also taking part in the Tour de Pologne a week later.
Having already won two stage races in the Vuelta a San Juan and Volta ao Algarve this year, Evenepoel says the pressure is mostly off for now, as his main goals for the season come later on in the revised calendar.
>>> Chris Froome leaving won’t change Tour de France position, says Ineos sports director
"It will be my first time in Poland and I look forward to it," Evenepoel said. "I will start the Tour de Pologne without any pressure. I have already proven that I can compete for the win in this kind of stage race. Also, my main goals are later in the season. But we’ll see how I feel and if the opportunity presents itself, I won’t waste it. If I feel really good, I could still go for a stage win or the GC. I don’t have to prove myself but I always expect a lot from myself."
Having won every race he's turned up for in 2020 so far, Evenepoel's confidence is not misplaced, and he says he will try to go to Il Lombardia in "peak condition". The Italian Monument will be his second-ever WorldTour one-day race, having won his first at Clásica San Sebastian last August.
"I will try to be in peak condition by then," Evenepoel said. "It’s a beautiful and prestigious race. We’ve already been talking about it with the team. We’ll have a strong line-up as it will be very tough. If I have to compare it to a race I’ve already done, I’d say the Clasica San Sebastian, but I expect it to be even tougher.
"The weather will be crucial this year with temperatures that could easily rise up to 30 degrees. It doesn’t really scare me, I think I can handle the heath, but the combination of high temperatures, fluid loss, technical descents and a demanding parcours will make it a hard race. After all, that’s why it’s a Monument."
After that, the European time trial champion will turn out for a race against the clock at his national championships, before defending his European champion's jersey in Trento, Italy, in September.
Then it will be time for his first Grand Tour, the Giro d'Italia, and an opening time trial on October 3 will give Evenepoel the chance to take his first Grand Tour leader's jersey.
Thank you for reading 10 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
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
‘Moments to live and remember’: Roglič set to win the pink jersey after winning extraordinary penultimate stage of the Giro d’Italia
Thomas loses the pink jersey to Slovenian by just 14 seconds
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
The best Memorial Day deals for cyclists
Memorial Day is coming up in the United States. We've rounded up the best Memorial Day deals for cyclists including bikes, apparel, gear and accessories.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Pogačar still reigns, and farewell to Valverde and Nibali: Five talking points from Il Lombardia
The final WorldTour race of the season saw Enric Mas come close once again, and Julian Alaphilippe disappoint
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar powers beyond Enric Mas to win second Il Lombardia
The Slovenian claimed the third Monument of his career
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Strava data reveals huge performances from Fausto Masnada, Alejandro Valverde, and Mike Woods in Il Lombardia 2021
The KoM for the decisive penultimate climb fell in this year’s edition of the Italian Monument
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Five talking points from Il Lombardia 2021
Tadej Pogačar finishes the season on a high as he wins his second Monument
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar takes second Monument with victory at Il Lombardia 2021
The Slovenian beat Fausto Masnada in a two-up sprint
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Il Lombardia 2021 start list: Evenepoel, Alaphilippe, Pogačar and Roglič set to battle for the last Monument of the season
The list of riders down to take part in the 115th edition of Il Lombardia in Italy on Saturday, October 9
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Five things to look out for at Il Lombardia 2021
The final Monument of the season is here - don't miss these moments
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe and Remco Evenepoel share their thoughts ahead of Il Lombardia 2021
The two Deceuninck - Quick-Step riders come into the final Monument of the year as two of the main favourites
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published