"Jonas Vingegaard rode very defensively again, like he has all week" - Remco Evenepoel's frustration at rival continues on final stage of Volta a Catalunya

Remco Evenepoel left the Volta a Catalunya with a familiar feeling. Not frustration at a single moment, but at a pattern that repeated itself across the week, culminating once again on the final stage in Barcelona.

“Was there more possible? I’m not frustrated, because there were a lot of riders who had a chance to win this stage,” he said to Sporza after finishing third on the Montjuic circuit. “Jonas rode very defensively again, like he has all week. There was nothing I could do about that.”

That tension is not new. Evenepoel has questioned Jonas Vingegaard’s approach before, most notably during the 2024 Tour de France when he remarked: “Sometimes you also need the balls to race… maybe Jonas didn’t have them today.”

The wording may differ, but the underlying contrast has not changed.

The final stage offered one last opportunity to turn the race, and Evenepoel took it on. He was repeatedly on the move across the short climbs and technical descents, trying to break the rhythm of a race that had largely been controlled.

Conditions, however, worked against him. “There was a lot of headwind on the local circuit, so it didn’t really suit me as an attacker,” he explained, recalling how even a late move was quickly neutralised. “In the end I still had a small gap, but Mas seemed keen to close it down, although I don’t really know why. Then the focus immediately had to shift to the sprint.”

From there, the stage drifted towards a reduced bunch finish, where Evenepoel committed early but could not convert. “I also thought the finish was a bit closer after that corner, so maybe I went a bit too early. But once you go, you have to commit fully.”

For Evenepoel, the decisive moments came earlier in the week. The opening crosswind stage in particular remained a point of reflection.

“On day one I immediately showed I was ready in that crosswind stage. If Jonas had just worked with us there, the race could already have been decided.”

Instead, the race stayed intact, allowing Vingegaard to maintain control rather than being forced into risk. It was a scenario that played out repeatedly as the week progressed, with Evenepoel trying to create situations and Vingegaard managing them.

That balance was further tipped by the crash that disrupted Evenepoel’s race midweek, both in terms of physical condition and what he could realistically attempt afterwards.

“Without that crash, there would definitely have been more possible this week, I think,” he said. “It’s a shame it happened, but that’s how it is. We can’t really draw too many conclusions from the general classification.”

The damage lingered. “Yes, that crash really took away a lot of my chances. A large part of my body was opened up. I also had some stiff muscles and a tight lower back, so that takes away a few percent.”

Even so, the Belgian leaves Catalunya with a top five overall finish and a central role in Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe’s race, including his work in support of Florian Lipowitz in the mountains.

“The fact I still finished fifth overall, despite doing a lot of work on the front yesterday, is not bad,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve had a bad Volta a Catalunya. Nowadays, everything has to be 100% right if you want to win a race like this. Luckily, I was able to finish the race and together with Lipo, we still achieved a good result.”

With the week done, Evenepoel’s focus shifts quickly forward, rather than lingering on what might have been. “No, we’re not going to adjust the programme. That’s something for next year,” he said of any potential changes to his schedule. “I’ll now go to Belgium for two days and then head to Spain to calmly prepare for the Ardennes Classics. There’s more to aim for there.”

The result in Catalunya may not have matched his ambition, but the takeaway is clear. The approach has not changed, the intent is still there, and the same tactical contrast with Vingegaard continues to shape the outcome.