"Our full focus is now on the podium in Paris" - Remco Evenepoel breaks unlucky Tour with convincing time-trial victory

Remco Evenepoel was the man to beat today at the Tour de France's sole flat time-trial and he rode according to expectations. The Soudal - Quick-Step rider took the victory and leaped in the overall classification; releasing pressuring from his shoulders.

"You never know, because you know that big guys like Edoardo [Affini] will also do well on this course. They can also save a bit more in finales like yesterday's," Evenepoel said in a post-race interview. "I knew I had a good chance, but my legs have to be ready. Everything has to go according to plan, and in the end, it did."

"I think my strongest point was maintaining the same pace at the finish as in the first 10 kilometers. I kept the pace high, and we saw in the splits that I always pushed myself forward and made up time in the last 7 or 8 kilometers. I managed it perfectly; everything was on point," he believes.

Evenepoel rode a strong time-trial, in the second half taking over the provisional lead and removing Edoardo Affini from it. But it was Tadej Pogacar who finished the closest to him, with the Slovenian jumping to the yellow jersey - the only rider ahead of Pogacar now.

"Tadej also performed very well. With 17 seconds, he's quite close, it's half a second per kilometer. Compared to the time trial in the Dauphiné, he's taken a step forward. He's shown he's in great shape. He's the man to beat in this Tour de France," the Belgian said of his rival.

Both have gained significant time on Jonas Vingegaard, and Evenepoel is now even ahead of him. "Compared to the others, I did what I had to do, to gain as much time as possible on them in the general classification. I think it's a bit like last year with the time trial. I'm happy with that; it's a big step towards the podium. But the Tour is still a long way off: I'm just very happy with my performance in this time trial."

Now with no need to take a stage win, he can fully focus on the overall classification. "The Tour doesn't end here, of course. Everyone knows what's coming, next week and the week after. We still have a lot to do, but it's always nice to take a stage win. It means our team's stage-breakers have already won, so we can relax a bit more now. Our full focus is now on the podium in Paris".