Lemko Evenpoel, who has started three stage races in three different countries this year, will be looking for his fourth consecutive GC win at the Tour de Pollogne on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old Belgian won the Vuelta a San Juan in January, and a month later he was on top of the podium at the Volta ao Algarve; even the blockade of COVID-19 and subsequent race postponement did not stop Even the blockade of COVID-19 and subsequent race postponement did not stop Evenpoel from winning the Vuelta a Burgos at the end of July, and the momentum of the could not be stopped. The talented all-rounder will now lead his team into Pollogne. This race usually follows the Tour de France, but this year it will be held as a warm-up for the Giro d'Italia.

"Poland is a strange race in terms of winning the GC," the young Belgian mused during a long zooming call with the European press the day before the race began.

"The stages are hard, but there are no serious climbs like in Burgos. If you look at the parcours of stages 3 and 4, they are very similar to the Ardennes, so if you want to win the GC you need to ride well on those stages.

"We have a good plan with the team to try to gain time with the other riders. Without time trials and proper climbs, the gap here is really small. It's a shame there's no TT."

Evenpoel's schedule for the rest of the year is geared toward his big goals at the World Championships and the Giro. His TT skills are unquestioned, but his Grand Tour pedigree is unknown. He has never started a three-week race, let alone finished one, but the way he dismantled a world-class field in Burgos was a reminder of his natural talent and restraint in stage races. With momentum and expectations building for the Giro d'Italia, Evenpoel is taking it all in stride.

"I don't think my status for the Giro will change much if I keep winning races," he said.

"Last week was a big test of how I can compare myself with the right climbers, and comparing myself with the GC guys in Burgos was a bigger test than here in Poland.

"Hard to say," he replied.

"First of all, we have several goals right now and we are focused on Lombardy. I have to take it one race at a time and prepare as well as possible. My advantage is the TT, the race has a time trial of almost 70 km. I have to be ready for the climbs, because you can lose an entire Giro in one day, like the Yates (Simon) brothers did a few years ago."