Tour de Suisse June 11-18, Switzerland

Evenepoel returns to action in Switzerland

- Tom Thewlis

Remco Evenepoel returns to racing at the Tour de Suisse following his Giro d'Italia heartache, with the world champion targeting a strong performance as part of his preparation ahead of his World Championship defence.

The Soudal-Quick Step rider was forced to abandon the Giro after nine stages when he caught Covid, the 23-year-old giving up the maglia rosa and a 45-second advantage that he had earned via two wins in the race's time trials.

Almost exactly a month since his abandonment, Evenepoel will be one of several top riders lining up in Switzerland, although most are using the race to find their form and rhythm just before the Tour de France.

"It has been quite a challenge to see a pathway through the rest of my season. We know that my main goal of this year was the Giro d'Italia and what happened was really unfortunate, so it was important to plan the right path with the team management," Evenepoel said.

"I think to begin in Suisse is the perfect start, and it allows me to revisit a race where I have good memories from my time trial win last year."

It had been rumoured that Evenepoel might have brought forward his Tour de France debut by a year because of his Giro disappointment, but he confirmed that after the Tour de Suisse he will return to Belgium for the National Championships and then attend an altitude camp in Italy.

"Hopefully I can take some good legs from there [Switzerland] to the Belgian Champs, to defend my TT title and to see what I can do in the roadrace," he explained.

"And then I can spend some weeks at altitude in the beautiful area around Val di Fassa.