Remco Evenpoel's Strava profile was briefly silent last week, but there is little privacy for the Belgian champion ahead of his Tour de France debut.

According to Flanders Media, Evenpoel also used his time in central France to study the time trial to Jouvre-Chambertin on stage 7 and part of the route to Colombie-les-Deux-Eglises on stage 8.

Evenpoel's mission to France was first revealed when a cycling fan posted a video on social media of the Belgian riding the route of stage 9 with his Sourdal-Quick Step teammate Louis Verweke This was the beginning of the story.

According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Evenepaul and Verwerke were accompanied on the excursion by Claes Lodewijk of the Directeur Sportif, David Geroms of Soigneurs, and mechanics Nicolas Koosmans and Dario Kroek He said.

Evenpoel then returned to his winter base in Calpe and posted details of training rides in the area on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Evenpoel's race program for 2024 will be officially announced at the Soudal-QuickStep media day in Calpe next week, but before the 23-year-old, who was named Belgium's Sportsman of the Year last month, tackles the 2024 Paris Olympics The 23-year-old, who was named Belgian Sportsman of the Year last month, has already indicated that he intends to make his Tour debut in July before taking on the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"The Tour and the Olympics in July. The most important month of my life so far, and probably forever, is coming," Evenpoel said.

"Next season I'm concentrating on Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour de France, and the Paris Olympics, with the road world championships behind that. My ambition is to get my third win in Liège and my dream is to leave Paris with two medals."

Evenpoel is expected to start the 2024 season in February at the Volta ao Algarve, which he won in 2020 and 2022, and Christian Prudhomme expects the time trial world champion to debut in Paris-Nice in March He has indicated.