Remco Evenepoel hopes to enjoy the calm day in yellow at Dauphine: "The aim is to get through the day well and to spare myself as much as possible"

Remco Evenepoel tricked everyone into thinking that he wouldn't ride for the victory at Critérium du Dauphiné to then completely smash the competition with a stellar performance against the clock. But his opponents won't allow the Soudal - Quick-Step to take any extra time for free and Evenepoel knows that very well. Luckily he'll have the chance to save up some energy ahead of the last three mountain stages in Thursday's easier stage 5 from Amplepuis to Saint-Priest.

"It is a bonus to be able to wear that yellow jersey," Evenepoel admits in a conversation with Het Nieuwsblad. With the yellow jersey from Critérium du Dauphiné already in his collection, he can now set his eyes towards the next goal - Tour de France, where his dream is to wear the maillot jaune at the final podium in Nice.

"I hope it will be a calm stage. I think it's gonna be nice day to ride bikes. The aim is to get through the day well and to spare myself as much as possible after the effort in the time trial and with the prospect of the mountain stages to come. The motto is to waste as little energy as possible," Evenepoel makes clear.

"It was special yesterday to receive that jersey, especially with all those enthusiastic young guys on the podium. It was nice to see them so happy. That gave me goosebumps," the Belgian champion concluded before the start of the fifth stage.