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.
-
'We were talking about going to the Giro d'Italia': Jonas Vingegaard postpones Giro-Tour attempt - for now
The Danish two-time winner of the Tour de France is seeking to regain the yellow jersey in 2025
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Why are so many women cycling in the gym, but not outside?
Gender imbalance persists in outdoor cycling, but inside, it is a different story. Isobel Duxfield explores why
By Isobel Duxfield Published
-
'He’s at the age now where he's coming into his prime' - Where does Tadej Pogačar go next after a year of unequalled domination?
Becoming the first male rider since 1987 to complete cycling’s hallowed triple crown earns the Slovenian this year’s prize. Tom Thewlis salutes a spectacular year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Giro d’Italia 2025 to start in Albania
Two road stages and an individual time trial to take place across three days of racing in Balkan country
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
British pro left feeling 'confused' after being dropped by WorldTour team
Harrison Wood will ride at Continental level for Sabgal–Anicolor next year after leaving Cofidis
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard plays down talk of Giro d’Italia debut in 2025, and clarifies use of carbon monoxide inhalation
Two-time Tour de France winner gives nothing away when asked if he’ll appear at the Giro, but the Worlds in Rwanda is in his sights
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tadej Pogačar says blistering Sormano attack was 'planned' after cruising to fourth Il Lombardia title
World Champion ends his season on a high in Italy with 25th victory of the year secured at Italian Monument
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How Tadej Pogačar created history and claimed cycling's Triple Crown of the Giro-Tour-Worlds
A journey that was supposedly fraught with risk and uncertainty was anything but for Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and World Championships victor Tadej Pogačar
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Miguel Ángel López receives four-year doping ban
Lengthy ban relates to findings from 2022 Giro d’Italia
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Who won each classification at the Giro d'Italia 2024?
Who won the maglia rosa, maglia ciclamino, maglia azzurra and maglia bianca after the final stage?
By Joseph Lycett Published