"A great opportunity for Mathieu to take yellow" - Remco Evenepoel hints at van der Poel success in hilly Dauphiné stage

This year's Criterium du Dauphiné has only seen two stages thus far but the action it's delivering is quite a lot. At the start of stage 3, all of the superstars are thinking of each other and seemingly all in good spirits. Remco Evenepoel believes that this Tuesday we may see Mathieu van der Poel in yellow.

"I think it's a great opportunity for Mathieu to take yellow," Evenepoel said this morning in words to Het Laatste Nieuws. Evenepoel did not really comment on his own chances of succeeding, although the explosive finale - not too different than that of stage 1 - would also fit him.

There will be a steep climb inside the final 20 kilometers of the stage that's certain to split the peloton quite a lot - if it hadn't happened already beforehand - and the flat finale into Charantonnay can become very tactical.

After what the Belgian showed on the opening day, closing the gap to the group of van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Santiago Buitrago on his own on a flat road, it's safe to say he will be dangerous. Above fighting for a stage win, he can't be given freedom by his rivals as he can gain time and become a serious threat in the fight for the final overall classification.

However he has mostly eyed his rivals for the day, taking into consideration still the scenario of a potential sprint finish instead of a GC battle once again. "Fred Wright is also a definite contender. Although it will also depend on how Lidl-Trek, with leader Milan, will approach the race."

Evenepoel is using the Dauphiné to prime his form ahead of the Tour de France and according to reports he is significantly lighter than last year, which could be a sign that the Belgian may have much better climbing form and be a match to the likes of Pogacar and Vingegaard whom he joined at the Grand Boucle's podium last summer.