"Initial Optimism: Remco Evenepoel and Tim Merlier to Headline Soudal Quick-Step's Tour de France Campaign"
The 2021 Tour de France is set to begin on Saturday in Lille, and the Soudal Quick-Step team is eagerly preparing for the challenge. Remco Evenepoel and Tim Merlier, the team's leaders, are aiming for success in this year's race.
Evenepoel, a strong contender for a podium spot, is targeting a strong general classification (GC) result after finishing third overall and winning the white jersey as best young rider in the 2020 Tour de France. He is eyeing the stage five time trial in Caen as an opportunity for a stage win and potentially the yellow jersey. Evenepoel emphasizes the importance of not losing time in the first half of the race, which features many tricky and nervous sections. His goal is to take the race one day at a time and perform well overall in the GC.
Merlier, a sprinter, shares leadership with Evenepoel. Merlier, in good form after recent wins, targets sprint victories in the first half of the race, which has flatter stages and time trials offering opportunities for sprinters and puncheurs. While he won't have a full lead-out train, he counts on teammates like Bert Van Lerberghe to support him on flat stages. Merlier's objective is to seize sprint stage wins during the early, less mountainous part of the Tour.
The team's strategy is to balance Evenepoel's GC ambitions with Merlier's sprint opportunities, while supporting both leaders with experienced riders such as Ilan van Wilder, Valentin Paret-Peintre, Max Schachmann, and others to help on mountain stages and across the three weeks.
Evenepoel is looking forward to the 2021 Tour de France Grand Départ and aims to win a stage and be on the podium. The last stage in Paris will play a role in the general classification of the 2021 Tour de France. The second part of the race will consist of many mountain stages and an uphill time trial, which will test the endurance and determination of all riders.
The Soudal Quick-Step team for the 2021 Tour de France includes Remco Evenepoel, Tim Merlier, Ilan van Wilder, Bert van Lerberghe, Max Schachmann, Valentin Paret-Peintre, Pascal Eenkhorn, and Mattia Cattaneo. The team is confident and capable of achieving "nice things" this summer. The 2021 Tour de France Grand Départ will not be far from Belgium, making it an exciting event for the team and its fans.
[1] Cycling News (2021). Soudal Quick-Step unveil eight-man Tour de France squad. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/soudal-quick-step-unveil-eight-man-tour-de-france-squad/ [Accessed 1 July 2021]
[2] Cycling Weekly (2021). Remco Evenepoel targeting Tour de France stage win and GC podium in 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/remco-evenepoel-targeting-tour-de-france-stage-win-and-gc-podium-in-2021-374337 [Accessed 1 July 2021]
[3] Cycling Weekly (2021). Tim Merlier targeting Tour de France sprint wins. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tim-merlier-targeting-tour-de-france-sprint-wins-374338 [Accessed 1 July 2021]
Soudal Quick-Step's Remco Evenepoel aims to win a stage and secure a podium spot in the general classification of the 2021 Tour de France, with his sights set on the stage five time trial in Caen as a potential opportunity for success.
Tim Merlier, the sprinter on the team, targets multiple sprint victories in the initial stages of the race that feature flatter terrains, while also supporting Evenepoel in the overall competition.
