Remco Evenepoel heads to altitude in Tenerife after UAE Tour triumph

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) in action at the recent UAE Tour, which he won
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) in action at the recent UAE Tour, which he won (Image credit: Dario BelingheriGetty Images)

After taking his first win of the 2023 season with the overall title at the UAE Tour last week, Remco Evenepoel is heading to altitude as preparation for his Giro d'Italia bid begins.

The world champion today flies out to Tenerife and Mount Teide in the next step of his early season following 14 days of racing across the Vuelta a San Juan and the UAE Tour. He'll remain at training camp until the Volta a Catalunya on March 20.

The group will stay at the Hotel Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide up the mountain. It's a popular destination for teams. Jumbo-Visma are notable visitors, using the stay at altitude to great effect this winter and crediting the recent training camps held there with their Opening Weekend successes.

Evenepoel's next appointment will come in Catalunya, where he'll make his debut and take on three summit finishes at Vallter, La Molina, and Lo Port. Another trip to altitude will follow ahead of a trip back to Belgium for Brabantse Pijl and his Liège-Bastogne-Liège title defence.

"I think I can be really proud. It's my first race where I wanted to do a good GC," Evenepoel said after his win at the UAE Tour, the 11th stage race triumph of his career.

"I haven't gone to altitude yet; I'll go in a few days, so I can only improve. It's only good signs and we have to continue like this.

"Yes I think so," he added when asked about whether he was on the right track for the Giro in May. "As I said, without altitude and specific work, I think a lot more improvement is possible, so all good for now.

"We'll now go to altitude for the first time and start the real specific work towards the Giro."

Dani Ostanek
Senior News Writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor, later being hired full-time. Her favourite races include Strade Bianche, the Tour de France Femmes, Paris-Roubaix, and Tro-Bro Léon.