Remco Evenepoel unconcerned with current form: "Everything is going well according to schedule"

Remco Evenepoel travelled to the Vuelta a San Juan early in the season to test and prime his form, and he leaves with mixed feelings. No pressure, but on two occasions he attacked the race bravely in search of success, including on the final day.

"No. It was actually my plan to go only 5 to 6 kilometers from the end, in order to checkmate the other sprinter teams a bit," Evenepoel admitted in an interview with Sporza. "But I saw that Simmons went and that is a good ally."

With 14 kilometers to go the unlikely duo of Evenepoel and Simmons attacked off the front of the peloton, and seemed to be at a certain point the big contenders to win on the day. However an organized and ferocious chase from the peloton saw them reeled in with 3 kilometers to go.

"Because of the tailwind it went very well at first and we rode away for almost half a minute. But in the headwind and with 4 to 5 teams behind us, it was difficult for us to hold on," he explained. "I was actually surprised that it took so long, but still we we a bird for the cat."

The Belgian team then worked for Fabio Jakobsen, who struck a fan's phone during the final sprint and rode to second. Evenepoel hence sealed his seventh place in the overall classification, below perhaps the initial expectations. "Not exceptionally good, but not bad either," he describes it himself.

"I tested myself when I wanted to and was able to show myself again today. The level was also much higher here than in other years, I noticed that in my wattages. Everything is going well according to schedule, now we just have to continue to work," he assures.

A return to home in Spain and a big block of training now follow before Evenepoel targets the UAE Tour. There he is expected to have better form in the uphill finishes but will equally face tougher competition in what will be his first goal of the season.

Asked if he will return to the Argentinian race, the World Champion responded: "It depends on how I finish my season and what the plan is next year. But I will definitely come back here in my career."