"It's not dramatic no need to panic" - Remco Evenepoel's time loss to Vingegaard and Pogacar not dramatic for Quick-Step
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel has so far ridden a consistent and strong Criterium du Dauphiné, but it's undeniable that uphill, he is not at the level of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. However, the team reassures that this is not a concern at the time being.
Despite his great time trial on stage 4, with which he took the lead by sweeping his two rivals, in the mountains the level offered has not been the same as that of Pogacar and Vingegaard. The same applies to Florian Lipowitz who is virtually set to take the third spot on the podium alongside the 'big two'.
However, at the Soudal Quick-Step camp there is no panic. Firstly because the Dauphiné isn't the goal the team is working towards, secondly because the pressure to win the Tour doesn't exist in the same way as his rivals.
Tom Steels, team DS, has spoken to Het Laatste Nieuws after yesterday's stage in which the Belgian was fifth on the road. "Tadej Pogacar is superior. What he is doing is spectacular, but Remco is not bad. He's still fourth. It's not dramatic, we shouldn't panic".
What Steels says of his rider however is that there is a lot of optimism over the level of the Olympic Champion, both taking into consideration his current competitive level but also the possibility of him still growing into the Tour de France at the current rhythm.
"I make it a rule not to talk about numbers and watts. That's private data. All I can say is that Remco is racing well. His fitness is not bad, but he's not at his best yet. That's probably true, but we still have time," he concluded. Into the final stage up to Mont Cenis, Evenepoel enters 4:11 minutes down on Tadej Pogacar, but is unlikely to lose his current position.
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
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