Remco Evenepoel starts the final day of
Paris-Nice 36 seconds behind Brandon McNulty, 32 behind Matteo Jorgenson and 1 behind Mattias Skjelmose. Not an ideal position, the Belgian admits that he will try to go on feel to surprise the competition.
"If you see the weather conditions we stayed out of trouble, gained a bit of time back, McNulty lost some time. Overall it was a good day, but still a big one ahead and a difficult one," Evenepoel said at the start of the day to Cyclingpro.net. His aggressive stance on the Madone d'Utelle net him some time gains over his rivals, but they were not significant. On the final attack-prone day in Nice he definitely stands as the most threatening figure, but not the main favourite to win the overall classification.
An attack uphill in the final climb is expected, but rivals will also know that the Belgian may attack anywhere in the stage. Hence he keeps his cards to himself on where he may try to make a move, or perhaps he is honest when he replies "I don't know actually, it's going to be a bit of the feeling on the moment itself, see how the race develops..."
The finale is difficult enough to make that time on the competition, but taking into consideration the form that he and his rivals have been showing, it's unlikely that an attack only on the final climb will be enough to win the race. "Whenever there is a good situation we might try. 30 seconds is quite a lot but we will see and read the race very well," he concludes.