3, 2, 1... REMCO LAUNCHES! 🚀 #FigueiraChampionsClassic
Back with a bang! Remco Evenepoel returns to racing with stunning 55km solo win at Figueira Champions Classic
CyclingSunday, 11 February 2024 at 10:34
In typical Remco Evenepoel style, the Belgian has made a breathtaking return to racing with a more than 50km solo victory at the Figueira Champions Classic in Portugal.
After an intense opening 50km, a breakaway of seven riders, five Portuguese and two Spaniards formed to give the peloton a carrot to chase. However, despite their best efforts, with more than 82km still to race, they had been reeled in by the peloton.
That's how things stayed for the next 30 or so kilometres, everyone just waiting for the race to take it's next twist and with 55km to go, Remco Evenepoel decided the time was right to make his attack.
Attacking over the top of the Rua Parque Florestal, only UAE Team Emirates' prodigy, Isaac del Toro was able to react but even the talented Mexican couldn't keep up with Evenepoel's blistering pace.
Whilst del Toro was soon swallowed back up by the peloton, Evenepoel continued to accelerate further ahead after he summitted the Rua Parque Florestal for the final time, he was more than a minute clear with around 15km to ride.
Behind him though, the battle for the 'best of the rest' as it was turning out, was proving to be a much tighter affair.
There was no catching the flyaway Evenepoel though, the lead continuing to grow as he neared the line and a perfect start to a 2024 campaign, that could potentially be career-defining, as he targets the Tour de France for the very first time this summer.
In the fight for the podium, Evenepoel's compatriot, Vito Braet took second with Simone Velasco coming home in third.
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