"I am not 100% yet" - Remco Evenepoel puts on great performance on first Tour de France mountain stage but can improve further

Wednesday, 03 July 2024 at 14:04

Remco Evenepoel looked to be missing climbing capacity before the Tour de France but has reached his best level at the perfect time. The Belgian rider has ridden superbly up the Col du Galibier and is in fact Tadej Pogacar's closest rival in the overall classification after stage 4.

Soudal - Quick-Step did not commit men to work this Tuesday and only had to follow wheels. But he did so at the level he hoped for, going through the summit of the Alpine ascent in third place around 10 seconds back on Pogacar and only a few less on Vingegaard. In the descent he struggled and lost positions, but was ultimately in the chasing group and then sprinted to second on the day - taking a few bonus seconds on Jonas Vingegaard but even some seconds on the road.

"It is always positive to finish second behind the best rider in the world. I have no complaints about our strategy or the course of the race. It was a good day for us," Evenepoel said in a post-race interview. “Once you are above 2000 metres you feel that it is more difficult to respond to accelerations. It was a very strong attack by Tadej. I tried to keep up, but that was a bit above my level.”

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“After that I went down as quickly as possible. However, there were a few wet bends in the descent. I slipped a few times. I have to be honest: I almost fell," Evenepoel admits. "I lost some confidence that way and the chasers came back. I felt good in general. I also won the sprint for second place in the end. That is nice. We can be satisfied.” At the end of the day Evenepoel sits second in the GC, 45 seconds down on Pogacar and 5 seconds ahead of Vingegaard.

“I knew that I had to be ready for the first four stages. Those are important stages right away. The form is good, but I am not 100% yet," Evenepoel states actually. Mikel Landa follows on his tracks, currently 7th in the overall classification - both having overcome injuries suffered at Itzulia Basque Country.

"We can talk about a good start for me and the team. We have to build on it now and hope for even better legs. For example on day seven, in the first time trial. The goal is still to ride top-5 in the classification and win a stage. But if we come close to the podium later in the Tour, then we will go for it. We are in a good position, but the Tour is still long.”

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10 Comments

frieders3 03 July 2024 at 02:07+ 1256

Let's see how he does in the third week of the big mountains. Only 4 stages in so yea he should be doing OK.

FlammeRouge 03 July 2024 at 21:48+ 253

Lezzz Gooo Remco!!!

bruins30 03 July 2024 at 21:48+ 145

all the remco haters sooooo quiet rn

KerisVroom 03 July 2024 at 09:22+ 753

It's still too early to celebrate. I hope he can be consistent throughout 3 weeks. Otherwise, his boss may reconsider his team GC option in the future.

bruins30 03 July 2024 at 16:01+ 145

Doubt it, this is his first tour ever and he's 24 years old 😂. Even if he blows up last week he's been great thus far and especially if he wins a few stages. The future is very bright

KerisVroom 03 July 2024 at 18:19+ 753

Patrick actually said this a few days ago. Not sure if he was serious with his statement in another article:

Next year, in 2025, you can say: now there are no more excuses. Then it is D-day. If you then come to the conclusion that sixth place in the rankings is the maximum, then you should resolutely go for stages and the classics. That's my advice.

Not sure if Patrick will flare up if Remco blows up. That sounds like a do or die to me.

bruins30 04 July 2024 at 11:01+ 145

Next year sure, but for a first tour, remco winning some stages and a jersey would be a great success, especially if he podiums as well

awp 03 July 2024 at 16:01+ 1215

Such great competition might bring the best out of Remco. He looks good so far.

santiagobenites 03 July 2024 at 16:00+ 1755

So far, so good for Remco in his first attempt at the Tour.

Mistermaumau 02 July 2024 at 21:30+ 3550

Seems like he’s moved a good step closer to being serious competition, well done to him, hopefully it will help him build a more constructive attitude too.

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"I am not 100% yet" - Remco Evenepoel puts on great performance on first Tour de France mountain stage but can improve further

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Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!

Remco Evenepoel against plans to include Montmartre in the traditional Champs-Elysées stage: "Don't make it too complex and just stick to that local circuit"

"I don't feel the need for revenge but for sure she is a rider to watch" - Demi Vollering will keep keen eye on Puck Pieterse in Liege after string of high-profile defeats

"Everyone's outlook on races has changed a little bit because we're dealing with the next Eddy Merckx" - Tom Pidcock claims peloton is happy to settle for 2nd behind Pogacar

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