At the Tour de France Evenepoel challenges superstition with the number 13 upside down on the jerseys and prepares a mission called Le Lioran.

There are those who avoid the number 13 and those who, instead, consider it a lucky charm. Remco Evenepoel belongs without hesitation to the second category. For this reason, on the first rest day of the Tour de France, the Belgian smiled in front of the special initiative of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, which to celebrate the team's thirteenth participation in the Grande Boucle wore a completely upside-down jersey, with the famous number 13 reversed as well as the sponsors and colors. The upside-down number 13 has been on the jerseys since the start of the race, yesterday it was presented in an even more... upside-down version!

«According to the team, 13 is an unlucky number, so they decided to flip it - Evenepoel told Sporza - For me, instead, 13 has always been a lucky number. I don't believe in these superstitions».

With a smile, the Belgian describes his state of mind well, having arrived at the first rest day with positive feelings. After nine stages, he is fourth in the general classification, 3'30" behind yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar, but above all just three seconds behind third place held by Isaac Del Toro.

«I'm satisfied with my first week - Evenepoel continued - Everything went well and everything was under control and this rest day came at the right moment».

The Belgian, however, knows that the Tour is now entering its decisive phase. The tenth stage, from Aurillac to Le Lioran, offers almost four thousand meters of elevation gain and a finale that mirrors the eleventh stage of the 2024 Tour, when Jonas Vingegaard managed to come back and beat Pogacar after one of the most spectacular duels of recent years.

«Today will be an important day. Yesterday I tried to recover as much as possible to arrive ready for the second week».

Among the appointments already circled in red by the Olympic champion is also next week's individual time trial, ideal terrain to try to make up ground on his rivals. It's no coincidence that even on the rest day he chose to train on the time trial bike.

«It's a habit of mine to use the time trial bike even on rest days. It's nothing new. Here during the Tour there isn't much time to train and I need to continue maintaining my position in the saddle».

The number 13, therefore, remains upside down on the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe jersey, but not in Evenepoel's beliefs. The Belgian doesn't seek luck in superstitions: he prefers to build it by pedaling. And from today, on the mountains of the Massif Central, he will have another opportunity to prove he can reopen the race for the Tour.