Lemko Evenpoel has responded to criticism from Eddy Merckx by confirming that he will not be running Liège-Bastogne-Liège and other classics in the new August-November race calendar, but will instead aim for overall victory at the Giro d'Italia.

Evenepoel has secured his place as Deceuninck-QuickStep leader for 2020, and his great potential, friendly personality, and breakthrough results as a neo-pro in 2019 won the hearts of Belgian cycling fans, attracted the near-constant attention of the Flanders media. However, Evenpoel has yet to reach the status of cycling's undisputed greatest rider of all time, Eddy Merckx (who recently suggested that he thinks the 20-year-old is already a successful rider).

Evenpoel won both the time trial and road race junior world titles in 2018 and won the Clasica San Sebastian in his debut season. This season he won both the Vuelta a San Juan and the Volta ao Algarve, but his results cannot be compared to Eddy Merckx's legendary Palma.

"Of course he has talent, but he still has a long way to go. Sometimes he seems to think he has already succeeded. I hope he lives up to expectations, but he will have to eat a lot of sandwiches first," Merckx said.

"Still has to eat a lot of sandwiches" is a Flemish proverb used to describe how someone still has a lot of work to do.

Wisely, Evenpoel knew he could not fight back against Merckx, but he showed his pride again.

"Eddy Merckx has every right to push someone around. If you look at his career, I have nothing to add," Evenepoel admitted to Het Nieuwsblad. 'But I'm not going to worry. The team is happy with what I have done so far. That's the most important thing."

Evenpoel has been able to continue training outdoors in Belgium during the COVID 1-9 epidemic, and has been able to complete a solid training program as well as handle a number of personal challenges.

However, due to the race hiatus and the new race calendar from August 1 to November 8, his four major goals were reduced to two.

He would have to wait until 2021 to aim for the time trial at the Tokyo Olympics, and as a result of the jammed race calendar, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège will now be held on the opening weekend of the Giro d'Italia.

Julien Alaphilippe and sprinter Sam Bennett will lead Deceuninck-Quick Step in the Tour de France, while Evenpoel will compete in the Giro d'Italia.

"Grand Tours are important for my development," Evenpoel told Het Nieuwsblad.

"I'm sorry to leave Liège, but the team quickly agreed that the Giro was the best choice for me, and I want to know what it's like to compete in the overall for three weeks.

The Road World Championships are scheduled for September 20-27 near the UCI headquarters in Aigle Martigny, but there are reports that the event will be moved to Qatar at the end of the season due to the threat of the Swiss event, and the Belgian National Championships have also been moved from August 22-23 to September 22 for the same reason The event was changed.

Evenpoel has made it clear that he is not impressed by the narrowing of the dates and the possibility of a flat world championship in the Qatari desert. It would mean much more competition for leadership roles in the Belgian team, and he had his sights set on world titles in both time trial and road racing.

"I understand that mass events are banned in Belgium until September 1, but to be honest I think it's very silly.

"The Anzegem circuit is pretty tough and suits me, so I'm going to give it my all. But to have it on a Tuesday during the World Championships ...... Probably the details have not been worked out yet and the World Championship dates will be changed." "

"It would be a shame if they moved it to Qatar. The Swiss route is beautiful and a rare opportunity for climbers and Grand Tour riders. In Qatar the course will be like a billiard table and we will concentrate on time trials."