Why Remco Evenepoel is this year's big favourite for the Giro d'Italia

Remco Evenepoel is one of this generation's best cyclists. At just 23, the Belgian prodigy on two wheels has an impressive record other professional cyclists can only dream of.

The Aalst-born became world champion last year, earning his place in cycling history.

Shortly before his triumph in the Australian city of Wollongong, he also took home the Vuelta a España, the first grand tour win of his career.

Evenepoel's native Belgium, by many considered the homeland of cycling, is already dreaming of Giro success in 2023. The expectations are high, but will Evenepoel pull it off? We think he will, and here are 11 reasons why.

First of all, Evenepoel is a one-of-a-kind super talent. The former youth football player showed his class from a young age onwards, winning several world and European titles and destroying his opponents doing so. Some talents do not manage to shine on the highest level after success in the youth categories, but Evenepoel successfully progressed to the pro circuit.

Evenepoel will not start this year's Giro d'Italia without any experience, as he also competed in the 2021 edition of the race. Due to a horrible Tour of Lombardy crash the year before, however, he did not appear at the starting line in his best shape, having to withdraw from the race in stage 17. With this experience under his belt, however, Evenepoel should be able to endure this year's race better.

If Evenepoel were to triumph in the 2023 Giro, it would be his second grand tour win, after the 2022 Vuelta. Thanks to last year's Spanish success, he knows what it takes to perform at the top level for three consecutive weeks and how his body may respond.

Evenepoel 's Vuelta win would not have been possible without the team built around him. Over the years, Soudal Quick-Step manager Patrick Lefevere invested in a grand tour and climbing team, with only one goal in mind: make Evenepoel shine in the Giro, Vuelta en eventually the Tour de France.

If you follow Evenepoel on Strava then you are probably aware of the fact that he loves to train and batter himself. Evenepoel is known for his long and hard training rides, which are supposed to prepare him for the hardest race situations possible.

Image: screenshot Strava profile Remco Evenepoel

To appear at the start line in an optimal physical state, Evenepoel loves to train at altitude. In the past, he has battered himself in Livigno and the Sierra Nevada. To prepare for this year's Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Giro, the Teide (Tenerife) was his preferred destination.

Evenepoel is an all-round cyclist with exceptional qualities. One of his biggest strengths lies in time trialing. The Belgian is known for his phenomenal aero position, earning him the nickname 'the Aerobullet'. Adding the power he produces on the pedals, you get one of the best time triallers in the world.

His time trial qualities might well give him a big advantage over his opponents in this year's Giro. The 2023 edition contains more than 70-time trial kilometers, which gives Remco Evenepoel the opportunity to put plenty of time into his rivals.

On paper, Primoz Roglic seems to be Evenepoel's biggest rival for the Giro. The two already battled it out in last year's Vuelta, with Evenepoel taking the win after the Slovenian had to withdraw after a hard crash. This could well give Evenepoel the mental advantage.

Mentally, Evenepoel is enormously strong. To cope with the constant pressure and high expectations, the Belgian has worked a lot on his mental state, taking his career to the next level.

Last but not least, Evenepoel seems to be in a good form. The 23-year-old impressed in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, winning two stages and only having to give in six seconds to winner Roglic. Later this year, he put on an impressive display in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, winning the monument for the second year in a row. As the Belgian knows how to peak at the right time, we can expect that the best has yet to come this year.

Evenepoel's performances in the 2023 Giro will be followed by cycling fans around the word. The pressure and stake are high. Will he pull it off?