26/03/2023

"It will rain attacks" - Remco Evenepoel eager for final Volta a Catalunya stage, anticipates attacks

The final stage of the Volta a Catalunya will see fireworks. Who says it is Remco Evenpoel himself, who hasn't given up on the overall victory in the Catalan race, and looks to dethrone Primoz Roglic in the final day of the competition.

After finishing stage 6, where he cut the gap to 8 seconds and went on the attack in the finale, Evenepoel has talked about his expectations for the final day in Barcelona. “There is quite a long climb in the opening phase. There will be big attacks, a high pace and a tough course," the World Champion said. "After that, the local lap in Barcelona is also very difficult. There is not a single moment of rest, so it will rain attacks."

"I had the wrong rider with me" - Remco Evenepoel unhappy with lack of collaboration from Roglic at Volta a Catalunya attack

"We will of course try to go for the stage victory. The overall will of course be very difficult, although everything is still possible. We will see. Today the two best got away again on the climb, so let's hope it will be the same again tomorrow. And hopefully he will cooperate, so that we can go for the stage victory.”

At it's toughest part, the climb to the Alto de Montjuic is 900 meters long at 10%. Hard enough for differences to be made, but hard to create differences between the two who looked so balanced throughout the entire week. However, the circuit lacks flat meters and has incredibly fast and technical descents. Attacks are extremely hard to control and Evenepoel finds himself in favourable terrain.

Evenepoel "was much more in a hurry than I was" - Primoz Roglic resists Evenepoel raid and secures lead ahead of final Catalunya stage

“I come from an altitude camp and have to feel how the legs are. I want to race, I want to improve. I notice that I'm not 100 percent yet," the Belgian believes. However he will need every watt in order to take over the overall classification which he has been so close this week on many occasions.

"Of course I am in good shape, but there are still small details, for example in terms of weight, where I can improve. We're showing that we're at about the same level now, so that could be a nice battle in the Giro if we keep this form. But of course there are other guys who will get better," he concluded.