The drama does not end for
Remco Evenepoel and the
Vuelta a Espana. For a third day in a row there is big controversy surrounding the race, today the
Soudal - Quick-Step rider won the stage and put on the red jersey, but suffered a bloody crash right after the finish line.
“It is very nice to win here in Andorra. It shows that my preparation is good and I am happy about that. I felt really good on the last climb," Evenepoel said in a post-race interview. "As a team we have applied the perfect tactics by being patient and waiting. When we caught the escapees, I wanted to go for the stage win." The likes of Juan Ayuso, Sepp Kuss and Marc Soler attacked, but Evenepoel kept his powder dry and saved his legs for the sprint. It was a successful strategy, he had a lot of power in the final meters and easily outsprinted the competition. The bonifications see him jump into the race lead.
"I felt I had a lot left in my legs. That I also take the red jersey? Unfortunately, yes," he joked. “No, I am going to enjoy this jersey.” His lead hasn't extended dramatically, but it will remove pressure of his shoulders the success in Arinsal. However his victory was perhaps spoiled by what happened seconds after, as he couldn't brake in time and hit a group of people that stood close to the finish line, where the soigneurs stood.
The result was a wound in the face which saw him lose a meaningful amount of blood. Rightfully so, the Belgian was not happy: “The people were only 50 meters after the line. It is already the third day in a row that something has happened in the Vuelta, I've had enough."