Remco Evenepoel following Tour de Suisse stage win: "I think this was the best way to honour Gino"

On an emotional day at the Tour de Suisse, riders returned to some form of racing, after yesterday's ceremonial stage in memory of Gino Mäder. Remco Evenepoel was the winner and dedicated his victory to the much-missed rider.

“It was immediately clear to everyone that the race would be neutralized until the last 25 kilometres where the time would be measured. Everyone there at the same time, that was the most important thing. And then everyone was free to race,” explains Evenepoel post-stage to Eurosport. “I am not the person to give up on a game, even if the situation is difficult for everyone. I think this was the best way to honour Gino. I wanted to make the best of it, see what I could still do here. It was a tough last fifteen kilometres, constantly up and down. But towards the end it levelled out and I was able to let the emotions sink in. I wanted to win for Gino.”

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VIDEO: Remco Evenepoel pays tribute to Gino Mäder as he takes stage win at the Tour de Suisse

Evenepoel attacked over the top of the Ottenberg climb and once he got a gap there was no stopping the Soudal - Quick-Step leader. Easing to victory, Evenepoel was able to savour the moment and pay a touching tribute to Mäder by pointing to the sky.

Tomorrow the race is expected to fully return to racing and with a 46 second deficit on overall leader Mattias Skjelmose, adding an overall win to his tribute would mean the world to Evenepoel. “I will do my best to go for the stage win. I'm already proud that I'm getting better every day in this race, after illness and the mental blow after the Giro. So I'm really happy with what I showed," he says. "Tomorrow I want to give everything one more time. The final win will be difficult, but I will give everything.”

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PREVIEW | Tour de Suisse 2023 stage 8 - Evenepoel, Ayuso and Skjelmose to fight for race win on hilly time-trial

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