Lemko Evenpoel (Quick-Step Alphavinil) has already decided whether he will compete in the Giro d'Italia or the Tour de France in 2023, but will not reveal his Grand Tour choice until the New Year.

"I have already decided," Evenpoel told Het Nieuwsblad. But I am happy with the race program. The start is calm, but it gets more and more intense. In a way, it's the opposite of this year."

Evenpoel was speaking after being named Flandrien of the Year, another top prize in Belgian cycling, after the Kristallen Fietz prize he won last week. Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) was equally successful in both awards, winning the equivalent women's category award after winning the Kristallen Fiets.

This is the first time that Evenepaul has won the Flemish prize of the year, beating Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and Arnaud De Lier (Lot Soudal).

Evenepaul has hinted at competing in the Giro d'Italia, and the 2023 Corsa Rosa will include a 70.6 km time trial. But he is hungry to take on his Grand Tour rivals in France, and Sposo Soudal is eager to see him in the sport's biggest race next July.

Evenpoel said earlier this year that his only regret regarding the 2022 race was not participating in Milan-San Remo, but he told Het Nieuwsblad that he has not yet decided whether this Italian monument will be included in the 2023 race program He said that it has not been decided.

"That weekend is not yet clear," he said.

Evenepoel, who raced a total of 68 days in 2022, stressed that in 2023 he would prioritize quality over quantity.

Evenepoel also shared some feelings and impressions about his incredible 2022 campaign, saying, "From a purely physical standpoint, the solo attack in San Sebastián was the most powerful."

He won the Basque Classic for the second time in his career with a 45km solo breakaway.

"What really surprised me was that I was able to maintain my top form from the end of July to the end of September.

"I only had one bad day during this period. I crashed on the climb up Pandera in stage 14 of the Vuelta.

Evenpoel explained that he and his team learned from their mistakes in the Tour de Suisse.

"The lesson at the Vuelta a España was to prepare more specifically and be fresher at the start.

"It went very well then. The plan now is to copy that preparation at each Grand Tour."

When asked recently by Het Nieuwsblad if he needed a real or imaginary adversary to bring out the best in him, as former professional basketball player Michael Jordan did during his working days, Evenpoel said he finds his own motivation. replied.

"I don't get motivation from images of enemies, but from concrete goals. Cycling doesn't seem to be the right sport to think in those terms."

"Cycling doesn't seem like the right sport to think in those terms.

"The cycling peloton is a small environment and constantly bumping into each other. It is better to make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible."

"Cycling is a sport that is not only about making friends, but also about making enemies.