Remco Evenepoel takes massive 62-tooth chainring to victory at Volta ao Algarve time-trial: "Our good friend Victor Campenaerts started this, we 'stole' it from him"

As cycling progresses so does technology. Soudal - Quick-Step are currently equipping Remco Evenepoel with bigger and bigger chainrings for the time-trials and the change is so far successful. The World Champion rode one into victory and the yellow jersey yesterday at the Volta ao Algarve.

“We have adjusted the bicycle position a little this winter and the mechanics and the performance team have also figured out all kinds of things, in terms of shifting and all kinds of other things,” Evenepoel told Het Laatste Nieuws following his effort yesterday. “I think we have just taken a serious step forward in all areas.”

Whilst it had been said that yesterday was more of a test, clearly the Belgian team had several changes from the winter ready to implement. One such change was a 62-tooth chainring: “We made that choice because of the course – it went downhill a lot. I thought it was a limit myself. Our good friend Victor Campenaerts started this, we 'stole' it from him."

The result: A convincing victory, and the creation of a very big time buffer - 47 seconds - over the closest rival Daniel Martínez. The Belgian is in pole position to seal the deal this afternoon on the Alto do Malhão after such an impressive delivery of power against the clock. "It went very well. I can only be satisfied with the work of the entire team.”