"An important day for Remco" - Pressure on Evenepoel's shoulders into time-trial battle against Pogacar and Evenepoel

Remco Evenepoel is the reigning Olympic and World time-trial champion but that does not mean he has an easy challenge or is even the man to beat in today's time-trial at the Criterium du Dauphiné. It will be a hilly one and it will see him go head-to-head with both Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.

For this reason, "this is an important day for Remco. It is mainly flat at first with a headwind until the climb," team DS Klaas Lodewyck told Het Laatste Nieuws this morning. "That climb is steeper than on paper. The descent is fast and it continues downhill until the finish".

Soudal - Quick-Step already knows exactly what to expect from the 17-kilometer long effort into Saint-Péray. It should be a very fast course with the obvious exception of a climb that is 1.8 kilometers long at 8.5%, which should make meaningful differences and put the pure specialists away from the battle for the stage win.

It is a very interesting test for all three main contenders, who are gauging their form and material ahead of the ultimate test at the Tour de France. But in here, there is a very big desire to make a stand..

"I am curious to see how far we are. After today we will be much wiser. The past few days I saw that they are very evenly matched. They don't give each other anything for free. Everyone rides at a high level."