"My legs began feeling better and better" - Remco Evenepoel on rising form and becoming man to beat at Tour de Suisse

Remco Evenepoel struggled with the cold in the summit finish at Villars-sur-Ollon, but today at the Tour de Suisse he looked closer to his best level. Not top form, but the Belgian's consistent ride earned him a second place and leading position when it comes to GC favourites.

“I’m not in my best shape at the moment and I feel that I need to ride at my own pace on these climbs. Today wasn’t easy, but as the race progressed and we got closer to the finish, my legs began feeling better and better," Evenepoel said in a press release. Instead of attacking, today the World Champion raced defensively, struggling to keep up with the best on the main climb of the day where Felix Gall attacked for the win, but reuniting with the rest of the GC group shortly after.

He didn't attack the final kilometers as did the likes of Pello Bilbao, Wilco Kelderman and Romain Bardet, but a mix of setting his own pace and allying with race leader Mattias Skjelmose saw all riders but Gall be brought back. The Soudal - Quick-Step then won the sprint for second place, still taking a few seconds on the compeition.

"Considering everything, second isn’t bad, I think it was the maximum I could get out of this stage. But I keep my focus and confidence, and hope that I will overcome Thursday’s stage, which is going to be another difficult one," he concluded. He sits third in the GC after today, 16 seconds down on Gall and 14 on Skjelmose, but with the long final time-trial still to be ridden he becomes the main favourite after a tough day out yesterday.