Remco Evenepoel will start his first Tour de France as team leader. The former World Champion has been groomed to become a superb Grand Tour General Classification rider and he is expected to deliver great results for his Soudal-QuickStep team in this year’s Tour de France, which will start in Florence – one of Italy’s most beautiful cities and the cradle of the Renaissance.

24-year-old Evenepoel finished seventh in this year’s Criterium du Dauphine – a race in which he won the individual time trial. He also won a stage in this year’s Paris-Nice and finished second in the General Classification. Evenepoel also stunned many cycling fans by winning no less than three stages in last year’s Vuelta a Espana.

“Participating in the Tour de France is the dream of every child who falls in love with road cycling. It is something I too have dreamed about since the first moment I rode my bike and watched the Tour de France on television,” Evenepoel explained to Roadcycling.com.

“I’m incredibly excited to be at the start of the Tour de France for the first time in my career with such a great team. We have a strong squad and are ready to give it our absolute best.”

While many are expecting the former World Champion to deliver a top result in the General Classification of this year’s Tour de France, Evenepoel himself is playing down his chances of success in his virgin Tour. 

“Of course, I would like to have a good Tour and get some nice results, but let’s not forget it’s my debut in this hard and beautiful event, which is unlike any other. The plan is to discover the race, take it one day at a time and see where this leads us.”

Evenepoel will be joined by Mikel Landa, who will also be able to aim for a top result in the General Classification. The 34-year-old experienced Spanish rider finished second in this year’s Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and, more recently, finished tenth in the General Classification of the Criterium du Dauphine. Landa adds significant climbing skills and racing experience to the Soudal-QuickStep team.

“With both Remco (Evenepoel) and Mikel (Landa) in the team we can aim for a good result in the general classification of this year’s Tour de France,” sports director Tom Steels explained. “Mikel has a lot of experience, as do many of our riders. Together they form quite a strong and balanced team. Looking at the parcours I think you can easily say this will be one of the toughest Tour editions in recent years.”

Additional support for Evenepoel will come from consistent climbing ace Jan Hirt, who finished eighth in this year’s Giro d’Italia, and from strong allrounder Yves Lampaert, who is always showing great loyalty towards his team and its leaders. 

The 2024 Tour de France will be 3492 kilometers long and features no less than five summit finishes: Saint-Lary-Soulan, Plateau de Beille, Superdevoluy, Isola 2000, and Col de la Couillole. The race will visit the legendary Col du Galibier and Col du Tourmalet climbs, include almost sixty individual time trial kilometers, and more than thirty kilometers of challenging gravel riding. An exciting July awaits riders in the Tour de France 2024 and spectators along the roads and around the whole world.

Complete Team Soudal-QuickStep line-up for Tour de France 2024:

Remco Evenepoel, Mikel Landa, Gianni Moscon, Yves Lampaert, Jan Hirt, Casper Pedersen, Ilan van Wilder, and Louis Vervaeke.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for additional coverage from Tour de France 2024 and the rest of the 2024 pro cycling season.

Our cycling coverage is sponsored by Meyer Burger – Solar Power Deluxe – The “Apple” of Solar energy systems. Meyer Burger offers premium solar solutions for roofs, balconies and open spaces. Visit www.meyerburger.com to experience energy savings like never before. Demand the highest quality – ask for Meyer Burger.