“Just a police escort...” – Remco Evenepoel recounts stressful Mount Teide escape to save Catalunya start

Remco Evenepoel’s Volta a Catalunya campaign will begin after all, but not without a chaotic lead-in that briefly left his participation in doubt. Stranded on Mount Teide following heavy snowfall, the Belgian’s carefully planned altitude block turned into a logistical scramble before a late resolution ensured he made it to the start.

In the end, the reality of that escape proved far more straightforward than the situation first suggested. “In the end, it was pretty easy, actually. Just a police escort, and then after 10 minutes, the road was dry and super clean. I think it was a lot of stress for nothing big. But yeah, we managed to arrive, that’s the most important,” Evenepoel told Cycling Pro Net.

Just days earlier, Evenepoel’s presence in Catalunya had been far from certain, with road closures on the mountain cutting off access to and from his training camp. The situation created genuine uncertainty around his travel plans at a key moment in his early-season programme.

That uncertainty has now been replaced by a return to routine, with Evenepoel arriving at the race following what he describes as a smooth and productive preparation overall. “Yeah, pretty good. It was a nice time in Tenerife. Good training, good atmosphere. I had a week with Primoz Roglic and then two more weeks with the others, so everything went pretty smooth. We had a good time, and everything should be on point to do well this week.”

Attention now shifts quickly from the disruption to the racing itself, with the opening stage presenting a finish that blurs the line between sprint and punchy uphill effort. It is the kind of finale that has previously drawn GC riders into the mix, particularly when positioning and time gaps are at stake.

Evenepoel expects a selective effort rather than a traditional bunch sprint. “It’s like an extended sprint, let’s say. It’s almost an 800 metre sprint, so it’s not a pure sprint, which means some good punchers can also do well today. I think about names like Godon, who is really strong for today.”

While he does not consider himself the fastest in that type of finish, he has not ruled out getting involved if the opportunity presents itself. “In the end, I will just try to be in the mix. We need to be in front for the last descent because it’s a bit tricky. So yeah, I will probably be in the mix and then give it a shot. If it’s enough for the victory, we will see afterwards. I think I’m not the fastest in the bunch, but like I said, it’s a long effort, so I will try to get in the mix.”

Wind could play a role in the closing kilometres, particularly along the exposed coastal roads, but Evenepoel is not expecting it to fundamentally alter the outcome.

“The coast road will be headwind, but I think the sprint will be tailwind. So we will see how it goes. I think it’s the same circumstances for everybody, and I will just do my best and try to have a good result today.”

After days of uncertainty, the focus now returns to the race itself. The disruption on Teide may have briefly threatened his Catalunya start, but with that behind him, Evenepoel begins the week with his preparation intact and his objectives unchanged.