Deceuninck-QuickStep's Rémi Cavagna said he hopes 2021 will be "even better" after enjoying a dreamy 2020 season despite the coronavirus outbreak. After a dominant solo victory in the Ardèche Classic earlier in the year, the 25-year-old Cavagna refused to let the forced shutdown of the sport unduly affect his season, winning the French time trial title in August before getting a last-minute call-up to his home Grand Tour, Tour de France debut.

"At the Ardèche Classic, I was in the breakaway group. It was raining, but I loved the conditions and just kept going.

"Not only was it my first professional win in France, but winning early in the season always gives you a lot of confidence and takes the pressure off.

"I was expecting more in the spring, but then the lockdown came and everything stopped. 'After that long period it felt like we dawned from vacation. I couldn't get out there, so I trained every day on the roller table, trying to get in shape, but I still didn't know what my condition was going to be."

Cavagna made his return at the Tour de l'Ain in early August and also competed in the Criterium du Dauphiné, but his main goal was the time trial at the All-Japan championships at the end of the month.

"I had a great run there and finally took the jersey," he said. I know it's not the biggest race in the world, but it fills me with joy to taste victory and know that I will be wearing a special [French champion's] kit for the next 12 months."

Less than a week later, Cavagna arrived in Nice for the Tour de France Grande Pearl.

"I couldn't believe I was called up two days before the start and that I would be able to compete in the most important race in the world, a dream of mine since I was a kid.

"It was a great three weeks for the team: Julien (Alaphilippe) won early on and I took the yellow jersey. Then Sam (Bennett) took two wins and the green jersey.

"La Planche des Belles Fils was last and parcours was not for me," he admitted, but that did not stop him from giving it his all.

Cavagna was then called up for the Vuelta a España in October, making the most of his second three-week race of the year, when he was scheduled to compete in the Giro d'Italia.

"I can't believe I'm racing two Grand Tours in one season. I was in great shape the whole race and attacked many times and even came close to winning," he recalled on stage 16, when he was caught by a group just two kilometers away from a memorable solo victory.

Despite this, he was awarded as the most aggressive rider at the finish in Madrid.

Cavagna said he could look back on the past year with pride and hoped for more success in the future.

"These two victories, my Tour de France debut and finishing in the top 10 in the European and World Championship time trials (2nd and 7th, respectively), proved to me that I have grown a lot and am capable of competing with the best riders in the world.

"There is still a lot of room for improvement. I want to be better next year and help the team achieve stronger results. That's my main goal heading into the winter."

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