"I won't let my head hang" - Remco Evenepoel maintains positive viewpoint despite losing time to GC rivals

Despite showing his first sign of weakness in the battle for the Maglia Rosa at the 2023 Giro d'Italia, Remco Evenepoel remains a positive viewpoint of his standing in the race.

"I won't let my head hang," the Soudal - Quick-Step leader maintained in his post-stage interview taken immediately following the conclusion of stage 8 at the Giro d'Italia. “Overall I had a pretty good day. Of course not the super legs with which I can say: I can drive away from everyone. But unfortunately, I made a mistake."

Although he may have lost time to the likes of Primoz Roglic, Geraint Thomas and Tao Geoghegan Hart, Evenepoel actually gained time on the current race leader Andreas Leknessund who the Belgian now trails by just 8 seconds with a time-trial to follow on stage 9 before Monday's rest day. "By wanting to ride to Primoz at a distance of 700 meters from the top. I get to about five meters, but it blocked there," he recaps. "Then I saw Primoz drive away meter by meter. He must have had a super day, because getting away in this stage is quite spectacular."

“This is not a stage that I have optimally prepared for. Primoz simply has more explosive power than I do. Just like Pogacar, he is among the best in the peloton in that respect. The loss of time is a pity, but it is what it is. Losing fourteen seconds at eight kilometres is not very much, but it would have been better than nothing. Still, I take my hat off to the work of his team today," he continues. “I will certainly not hang my head. Last time I took 43 seconds on Primoz in the time trial. I'm going to try to take back at least as many seconds now. Then comes the day of rest, and it will be welcome. Let's hope this was just a bad day."