Remco Evenepoel will target stage wins over general classification at La Vuelta 2022 – Alberto Contador

Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) will not fight for the general classification at La Vuelta, according to Eurosport expert Alberto Contador. Evenepoel is second favourite with the bookies despite having never finished a three-week race, with his Giro d’Italia debut last year unravelling spectacularly in the final week before he abandoned.

Ad However, team boss Patrick Lefevere says the Belgian will be a different proposition in Spain, given he returned from a nine-month injury layoff at the Giro. Vuelta a EspañaEvenepoel and Alaphilippe named in strong Quick-Step team for Vuelta15/08/2022 AT 10:18 Evenepoel has shown impressive form this season, having won Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Tour of Norway and Clasica San Sebastian, and is included in a fearsome Quick-Step team alongside Julian Alaphilippe.

But Contador believes Evenepoel will be more interested in stage wins, rather than worrying about the overall crown. “Remco, despite being one of the best riders at the moment, is more focused on winning specific stages than fighting for the general classification,” said the seven-time Grand Tour winner.

“In the future he might change that preference, but for now his speciality is fighting for stages.” Quintana to miss Vuelta as he denies tramadol use La Vuelta: How to watch final Grand Tour of 2022 The road decides: Where La Vuelta will be won… and lost Contador continued that Evenepoel’s performance at the Vuelta would give an indication as to whether he could challenge Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) at the Tour de France in the future. “It is precisely this race that will give us the answer to these kinds of questions,” he added.