Remco Evenepoel addresses Ineos Grenadiers transfer rumours

Remco Evenepoel minced no words about the rumour he may be leaving Soudal Quick-Step for Ineos Grenadiers. “You know more than I do, my family doesn’t even know about it,” he told Dutch outlet In de Leiderstrui. That’s special. Mentally I am strong enough and there are no reasons not to be happy here. It’s a bit of bullshit.’

Jonas Vingegaard announced the end of the Tour de France that he would be riding the Vuelta a España as co-leader with Primož Roglič. When asked whether it was possible for a rider to win two Grand Tours in the same year, the Belgian was cagey.

The Jumbo boss called Patrick Lefevere about Jonas Vingegaard going to the Vuelta

“If I say no now, he will win the Vuelta,” he said. “Everything depends on how you get out of a race. I don’t think Vingegaard was at his limit in the Tour, when I saw him doing that. Maybe he’ll be two or three percent less, but then a rider like him is still better than most of the pack. I had that myself when I came out of last year’s Vuelta and it was still good at the World Championships. That’s what I expect from him now.”

He remains just as confident as to his chances for winning the Spanish tour, in fact.

Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel just did some absolutely bonkers training rides

“I’m not afraid, if you already have that, you better not start. Everyone should be happy that the Tour winner has another grand tour attached to it. Jumbo-Visma can control the course, let them do it,” the world champion said. “It’s up to us to try to follow. Roglic and Vingegaard are the favourites for the Vuelta, but I also count myself among them.”

The Belgian rider had to readjust his race schedule after being forced to withdraw from the Giro d’Italia wearing the pink jersey.

“I went on holiday for five days after a busy period, then I was at altitude and then another week for myself, with my wife Oumi,” he explained. “The form has to be good, I always respond well to altitude training. I hope to be in the same condition as last year, but with the world championships in a week I hope to be a little better. I also have to stay good towards the Vuelta. The feeling is okay, the weight is up, so I have to be ready for the next two weeks. I’m going to try to win the Clásica de San Sebastián again, it’s a special one to end with.”

The Clásica de San Sebastián gets underway on Sunday, and the road worlds take place August 6.