"I was shocked by the crossing people" - Remco Evenepoel critical of lack of safety in Vuelta a San Juan opening sprint

The opening stage of the Vuelta a San Juan was one for the sprinters, however not all made it to the finish safely. Fabio Jakobsen was perhaps the biggest candidate for the stage win but he could not take part in the battle because of the dangerous finale, and Remco Evenepoel has criticized it.

"The team worked perfectly. We did as we agreed. It was hectic and dangerous. I almost hit a woman, I think," Evenepoel said in a post-race interview. The World Champion was in the leadout of Soudal - Quick-Step in search of a win, but his work didn't prevent bad luck from taking place. 

Read also

Sam Bennett wins opening sprint of Vuelta a San Juan

The final kilometers saw a crash in the peloton, but it also saw road furniture exposed and a lack of barriers, which led to a lot of tension and danger in the final kilometers. "As Michael Morkov said: it should not be allowed that there is still such an open stretch at 1.2 kilometers from the finish where you do not know where to ride and where people are still crossing," Evenepoel. 

"It's a pity, because we were perfect at the appointment and Fabio [Jakobsen] couldn't sprint due to miscommunication about left or right. It was perhaps an unacceptable final kilometer," the Belgian stated.

Read also

"From one day to the next he didn't answer my telephone" - Max Richeze to retire following fall-out with Mark Cavendish

"I wanted to know if everyone would get the same time because it was a weird situation. I was not panicked, but I was shocked by the crossing people. A lead-out is without thinking, clearing your mind and accelerating. I was a bit upset and I wanted to ask if everything was okay. Lessons should be learned from this," he concluded.

Eventually Jakobsen missed the sprint, but Michael Morkov took his place, sprinting to second position. Sam Bennett won on the day, but tomorrow will see another expected bunch sprint in the town of Jáchal.

Read also

PREVIEW | Vuelta a San Juan 2023 stage 2 - Sam Bennett in the lead and facing wrath of rivals following chaotic sprint

Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team

@soudalquickstep

·Follow

Stage 1 of #VueltaSJ2023 ✅ Photo: @BeelWout

207

Reply

Copy link

Read 2 replies