Remco Evenepoel: "I think it's a dream come true to start the season like this"

After taking an impressive win on the opening stage of the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana, Remco Evenepoel did not just look to stay safe but played a key part in Fabio Jakobsen's win on stage 2.

"Yeah it's great, we've been dreaming of this start days before we were here, already in the team camp in Algarve we were talking about it, I think it's a dream that comes true for us to start the season like this," he told to CyclingPro after the stage.

"I said before the race to the guys that If I'm there I will help. I also said that before yesterday [stage 1]. I think we were in the front too early with Mikkel but it was the perfect situation as behind there was a big crash," he recalls, this was the crash that ocurred just outside of the 3 kilometer mark, but it wasn't the only one to take place in the last 15 minutes of the stage.

Evenepoel led out the Quick-Step train for a crucial section right before the final kilometer which allowed Fabio Jakobsen to stay very well positioned. After peeling off the front though he didn't taper to the line, but kept on pushing the pedals getting himself a 7th place in the slight uphill drag to the line.

"On those small roads the most important thing was to say in the front, it was the most safe option aswell. The descent was slippery and technical so tackling it in the front was the best option. Plan was that when we got on the big road with 3 kilometers to go we would go all-out, until the roundabout. We showed that we would take responsability to take control of the race, and to finish it off like this is deserved".

Tomorrow Evenepoel will have what is likely his final test to defend his overall win all the way into Valencia, and if today is anything to go by his rivals will not have an easy time trying to drop him in the summit finish at Antenas del Maigmó.