"I can’t beat them on that kind of finish. So I just didn’t go for it" - Remco Evenepoel keeps his powder dry on stage 2 of 2025 Tour de France

In a dramatic finale to stage 2 at the 2025 Tour de France, Mathieu van der Poel powered to the stage win ahead of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. Although he was safely in the lead group today, Remco Evenepoel was unable to get himself in the mix for the stage win.

"It was difficult for me to do anything," assessed Evenepoel honestly to CyclingUpToDate and the rest of the assembled media at the finish line. "so I just tried to arrive safely — and that worked out well. A positive end to the day."

When asked if he had contemplated doing something himself on either the final climb of the day of one of the ones previous, Evenepoel answered honestly: "Yes, but I didn’t have the feeling it would be useful. Especially since Visma had someone in second place. And I think Mathieu also really wanted to win the race," he explains. "I’m very happy Mathieu won today."

Still though, Evenepoel is happy with his feeling and his form. "I don’t think I can complain about that. Everything was good today — positioning was pretty good today too. Everything was a little sharper than yesterday," he says. "That’s my place — with the best, in front. It’s not about regaining confidence. I’ve never lost confidence. I just wanted to be there at the end — and I was."

"I know that guys like Mathieu and Julian Alaphilippe — I can’t beat them on that kind of finish. So I just didn’t go for it," the Belgian leader of Soudal - Quick-Step concludes. "But in the end, it’s always easy to say, 'Maybe I should have sprinted with them.' The most important thing was to be in with the first group — and stay upright. And not lose time on something stupid outside of the time bonuses."