Jan Bakelants believes Remco Evenepoel would be making a serious mistake by adding the 2027 Giro d'Italia to his calendar, warning that such a decision could even be interpreted as a lack of confidence in his ability to win the Tour de France.

The Belgian finished runner-up to Tadej Pogacar at this year's Tour, and with 71 kilometres of individual time trialling included in the newly unveiled 2027 route, Bakelants believes he has an opportunity that should not be compromised.

"Remco has been handed a fantastic opportunity by the 2027 Tour route," the former professional told HLN. "It would be very strange not to unwrap this gift with the golden ribbon and try to get absolutely everything out of it."

Why the 2027 Tour de France route offers Remco Evenepoel a golden opportunity

Evenepoel's first season with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe brought his best Tour result to date, including stage victories on the summit finish at Plateau de Solaison and in the individual time trial to Thonon-les-Bains. Although Pogacar ultimately finished more than six minutes clear, the Belgian's progress in the mountains offered encouragement alongside his established strength against the clock.

"Riding the Giro, even in combination with the Tour, could in this case be seen as a disguised fear of failure," Bakelants argued. "It would mean deviating from Plan A, almost as if he didn't have the confidence beforehand that he could succeed in July. I would therefore be extremely surprised if he put the Giro on his calendar."

Evenepoel has DNF'd both of his previous two Giro d'Italias

Giro-Tour double threatens Evenepoel's 2027 Tour de France preparations

Evenepoel has unfinished business in Italy, having abandoned both his previous Giro appearances. In 2023, he withdrew with Covid-19 while wearing the Maglia Rosa, shortly after winning the stage nine individual time trial.

The 2027 Giro features 56.9 kilometres against the clock, but its mountainous final week includes two ascents of the Mortirolo, the Passo di Gavia and a penultimate-stage summit finish on Monte Zoncolan. The race ends on 30 May, just 33 days before the Tour begins in Edinburgh.

With several established Grand Tour contenders elsewhere in Red Bull's squad, Evenepoel would not necessarily need to race in Italy for the team to challenge for the Maglia Rosa.

Bakelants was particularly dismissive of the prospect of a difficult Tour being blamed on fatigue from the Giro. "Turning up there with the excuse of 'I'm tired because I've already got the Giro in my legs' would go down very badly with the media," he said. "We'd call it poor planning."

The importance of that preparation was evident in 2026. Under coach Tim Heemskerk, Evenepoel went 68 days without racing after Liege-Bastogne-Liege, concentrating entirely on the Tour before recording his best-ever finish in France.

Whether Red Bull follows the same approach in 2027 remains to be seen. A Giro appearance, however, would mean sacrificing much of the preparation that helped Evenepoel finish second in France, just as the Tour is offering him his most favourable route yet.