Lemko Evenpoel will race the Giro d'Italia in 2023, ending weeks of speculation over whether he will return to the race where he made his Grand Tour debut in 2021.

The world champion will be the leading contender to win on a course that will feature three time trials, which is his specialty.

After Evenpoel's victories in the 2022 Vuelta a España and World Championships, speculation was rife as to whether he would participate in the 2023 Giro or head to the Tour de France instead.

The Soudal-Quick Step rider has now confirmed that his priority for next season's Grand Tour will be the Corsa Rosa. He abandoned the Giro midway through his 2021 Grand Tour debut, which was his first competitive race after fracturing his pelvis in a crash at Il Lombardia the previous year.

Evenpoel made the announcement in a video from Amalfi posted on social media Wednesday morning. The Belgian is currently in Italy scouting a portion of the Giro route with coach Davide Bramati.

"I plan to ride the Giro in 2023. It will be special because I will be wearing the rainbow jersey."

"I'm having a lot of fun doing the recon with Brama. I hope people will come out to see me and the whole team.

The 2023 Giro will feature an 18km individual time trial to Ortona on day one, followed by a time trial of about 70km. A 30 km flat time trial will follow until stage 9 to Cesena. Stage 3, the final day, will take place in Monte Russari.

There are summit finishes in Lago Lacheno and Campo Imperatore in the opening week. The high mountains begin in earnest with the crossing of the Gran St. Bernard on stage 13, and the second week concludes with a potentially explosive stage to Bergamo, familiar to all on Il Lombardia.

Meanwhile, the final week begins with a summit finish at Monte Bondone and includes a tough stage to Val di Zordo and the Dolomites Tappone to Tre Cime di Lavaredo before the Monte Russali time trial.

Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) is not likely to be Evenpoel's rival in Italy, and the Slovenian has already decided to take back the Tour de France crown from Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) in July.

2022 Giro winner Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) has yet to finalize his program for next season, while Geraint Thomas will lead the Ineos team in Italy and Joan Almeida will challenge UAE Team Emirates. It remains to be seen if Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) can be persuaded to return to the Giro, where he finished third overall in 2019.

The 2023 Giro will open in Ortona on May 6 and close in Rome on May 28.