Remco Evenepoel buoyed by UAE Tour success as preparation for Giro d’Italia continues
Reigning World Champion says Giro preparation is on track as he prepares to head to altitude


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
World Champion Remco Evenepoel says his preparation for a shot at Giro d’Italia success this May is firmly on track after winning the UAE Tour.
The Soudal-Quick Step man wrapped up a successful week for the Belgian team in the Emirates, taking the overall victory after a sterling performance on the Jebel Hafeet climb on Sunday.
Evenepoel was only beaten by Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates) on the final stage, finishing 10 seconds down on the Briton, but it was still enough to clinch the overall win.
Evenepoel and Yates were largely inseparable until the latter delivered a powerful attack with three kilometres left to race which the Belgian was unable to answer. As Evenepoel pointed out post-stage, the gap between him and Yates was far from massive and a telling sign as the Belgian prepares for the Giro.
“I knew Adam has been in altitude all winter, so you know he’s going to fly uphill. But 10 seconds is only a small margin, so maybe I underestimated myself earlier this week,” Evenepoel said. “But that’s only a good sign for the Giro.”
“If you know Adam’s numbers, you can only be satisfied, I think they never went up this climb faster than today,”
Evenepoel’s second place on the Jebel Jais climb four days previously placed him in the overall lead in the UAE, and his performance on Sunday was enough to wrap up the win.
The Belgian explained that the form is clearly there, although he explained that there was still plenty of work to be done in preparation for his goals in May.
“I think so. As I said, without altitude and specific work, I think a lot more improvement is possible, so all good for now. I’m happy. Also, the team I saw they are good but not yet at the top," he said.
“We’ll now go to altitude for the first time and, yeah, start the real specific work towards the Giro. But it’s good to go to do that with a great result here in the UAE, which is a very important race for us as GC riders, so I can be pleased and proud.”
After a stint at altitude, next up for the World Champion is the Volta a Catalunya as the road to the Giro continues.
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
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Tom is a News and Features Writer at Cycling Weekly, and previously worked in communications at Oxford Brookes University. He has reported from a wide range of races and events including the Tour de France and World Championships.
-
-
Stefan Küng suffers concussion and broken hand in dramatic European Championships TT crash
Groupama-FDJ's Swiss rider forced to end season as a result of injuries
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tech Question: We're used to racers on narrow bars - but are they more comfortable, too?
We ask the experts what to look for in determining the optimal handlebar width
By Joe Baker Published
-
Five things we learned from the Vuelta a España 2023: Sepp Kuss is the real deal and Ineos still lacking
Here's what we learned from the final Grand Tour of the 2023 season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Remco Evenepoel powers to solo breakaway victory on stage 18 of Vuelta a España
Evenepoel seizes third victory of 2023 Vuelta at La Cruz de Linares as Sepp Kuss stays top of general classification
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It's nice to beat the Tour winner' but Remco Evenepoel considers relinquishing Vuelta a España lead
The defending champion has a 31 second advantage over Jonas Vingegaard
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Remco Evenepoel hopes to 'steal' Jonas Vingegaard's secrets at Vuelta a España as he looks to 2024 Tour de France
Belgian aiming for second Vuelta a España triumph over the next three weeks, but faces stiff opposition
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Remco Evenepoel hopes transfer speculation 'calms down' after winning time trial gold at World Championships
Belgian beat Filippo Ganna of Italy and 19-year-old Josh Tarling to elite world title in Stirling
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
World Championships course ‘too explosive’ for Remco Evenepoel
Belgian hands over the rainbow jersey to Mathieu van der Poel after a tense and chaotic battle in the streets of Glasgow
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Glasgow World Championships 2023: Eight riders to watch in the elite men's road race
Remco Evenepoel gets set to defend the title he won in Wollongong, Australia last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
AG2R Citroën rider disqualified from Giro d'Italia after tramadol positive
Alex Baudin has results stripped but is not suspended from racing
By Adam Becket Published