The Wolfpack is ready for the opening stage of the #VoltaCatalunya102. 📸 @GettyImages
Remco Evenepoel wary ahead of "tricky stage" at Volta a Catalunya opener
CyclingMonday, 20 March 2023 at 16:15
Stage 1 of the Volta a Catalunya should be an opportunity for the sprinters, however Remco Evenepoel is aware of the dangers, and has explained how the finale is a trap that the GC riders have to be wary of.
“A tricky stage. I think we are lucky that it stays dry today. Last year it was wet here. It was a pretty tricky final, but one where the legs will speak," Evenepoel told Het Laatste Nieuws this morning. "For me it is not a stage to win, there are faster men in the peloton. Getting through safely and not losing any time is the motto.”
Although lacking top sprinters, the final kilometers are very technical and rolling. The final meters then rise up to 5% into the line, not only providing the sprinters with an opportunity but also giving bonifications as a possibility for explosive GC contenders, as Evenepoel has shown on occasion, but more particularly Primoz Roglic.
“It is important to be among the first fifteen riders at 1.5 kilometers from the line before the last corner. Positioning is key today," he explains. "That is already the case at six kilometers from the finish, because from then on it remains narrow and fast. If you are six kilometers from the end of the front, you will not be pushed away any time soon."
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