"Actually a copy paste from last year" - Remco Evenepoel believes he's on the right track for Tour de France

The final stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné delivered some action and Remco Evenepoel, unlike the past days, has gone on the attack. He wasn't able to create the desired differences, but the Belgian is happy with the upwards trajectory and the form into the Tour de France.

“I had a better feeling today. I already knew that Lipowitz has trouble with acceleration, he really needs to be able to ride one pace. So I tried," Evenepoel told Het Laatste Nieuws at the finale of the stage.

The stage was ridden quite fast both on flat roads and the climbs, but although the breakaway eventually culminated with a stage win, in the peloton there were moves on Mont Cenis. Tobias Johannessen was very eager to make the difference, and so was Remco Evenepoel who attempted to jump back onto the podium.

The gap was big but even if for a matter of confidence, the Olympic Champion attacked on a climb that suited him better, dropping Lipowitz and linking up with Valentin Paret-Peintre who had been in the breakaway. Whilst towards the top of the climb the German would close the gap, it was nevertheless a good test. Evenepoel finished the race in fourth position, with eyes on the Grand Boucle now up next.

“I shouldn’t underestimate how much trouble I had with the pollen and my fall this week. I wasn’t at 100 percent for two days. Today went better, that’s actually a copy paste from last year. The general feeling is positive. We have to stay calm now and keep working.”