"I’ve felt worse two days after a crash” - Remco Evenepoel plays down setback and insists 'no reason to panic' in Catalunya

Remco Evenepoel moved quickly to downplay the significance of his time loss on Stage 5 of the Volta a Catalunya, insisting there is “no reason to panic” despite losing ground to Jonas Vingegaard on the race’s first summit finish.

The Belgian framed the day less as a setback and more as part of a broader process, pointing instead to his condition following an earlier crash. “The feeling wasn’t super, but I’ve felt worse two days after a crash,” he said to Sporza, highlighting lingering stiffness but making clear it had not fundamentally limited him. “The feeling is already better than a month ago, so there’s no reason to panic.”

On the road, the situation developed in a way that removed Evenepoel from direct responsibility in the chase once Vingegaard made his move on the Coll de Pal.

With Florian Lipowitz positioned ahead, the Belgian adopted a more controlled approach behind, resisting the instinct to respond immediately. “I did what I had to do: wait, wait, wait…” he explained, describing a role that contrasted with his usual aggressive racing style.

That approach was reinforced by the structure of the group behind, where repeated attacks prevented any sustained organisation. “In our group there wasn’t great cooperation… otherwise we might have reached the group ahead.”

Evenepoel was also clear in his assessment of the decisive moment itself, acknowledging the level required to follow the winning attack. “His attack was very hard, especially with the crosswind. It wasn’t easy to follow.”

Despite the time gaps that opened on the climb, he maintained that the overall situation remains far from settled, both in terms of his condition and the race itself.

With more varied terrain still to come, the focus now shifts towards opportunities rather than damage limitation, as Evenepoel looks to build further through the week rather than react to a single stage outcome.