"If there is an opportunity I will not let it go" - Evenepoel anticipates second mountain showdown at Colláu Fancuaya

Remco Evenepoel has today spent his first day in the lead of a Grand Tour, a special day for the Belgian who has finished the stage calmly and safely within the peloton as Jesús Herrada rode to the stage win.

“We will see tomorrow. I have a nice advantage now, so I will also be happy just to keep this time gap over the others. Of course, if there is an opportunity I will not let it go," Evenepoel told reporters at the end of the day. The following two days will be important for the GC, with two summit finishes completing the opening week, two with very different characteristics.

Today however was a day to conserve: “It was a perfect scenario because the other teams controlled the race, and we didn’t have to do anything. Everybody could try to recover from yesterday’s race, and in the end, everybody was doing well. We were in control, and we were relaxed. It was quite a good day for us.”

“It was great to wake up this morning to see the red helmet and the special bike,” Evenepoel told of his experience, in what was the first of many days he will have in the lead of a Grand Tour throughout his career. “I slept well, and I had a good night. The team is ready to protect me as long as I can defend.”

“It’s a tricky race, and going into the time trial with an advantage would be better than going into the time trial from behind," he concluded. Evenepoel has put particular attention in the time-trial, but in the meantime Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team will have a big challenge to protect the Belgian in the coming two days of racing.