Remco Evenepoel: "We tried to make the race hard"

Against Tadej Pogacar on peak form it would be very hard to create damage, however Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team took to the start today with the goal of raiding the race and putting the Slovenian under pressure. The plan didn't work, however Remco Evenepoel does not take that as a defeat-

“We tried to make the race hard but there was a lot of headwind in the descent so you couldn’t really do anything significant. But I’m happy we tried. I notice I still lack a bit of punch against those guys on a climb like this, which we rode full gas. Pogacar had everything under control and he’s definitely the deserved winner. I was in the sixth or seventh position with 100 meters to go and I had to make up some ground, but I have no regrets, as the best man won.

In the first lap of the circuit in Bellante, Alaphilippe and Evenepoel launched an attack over the summit of the climb. For some kilometers, Evenepoel rode with Pogacar, former race leader Filippo Ganna and Jai Hindley. With a furious peloton chase behind though, the move didn't work. Evenepoel tried again in the final climb as Julian Alaphilippe cracked, but couldn't get the space he wanted between himself and the group. He finished fourth, just two seconds behind - plus bonifications - Pogacar and is sitting in second in the overall classification tonight.

"I’m still second in the GC, and as I said before, I’m here to give my best and try to be on the podium, and so far things are looking good. I’m looking forward to the next days," he concluded.

Evenepoel will have two hard stages where he will have to defend his second place in the GC. Unless any major mishap happens to the race leader Pogacar, it would seem unlikely that the Belgian will be able to get to first place. However there is a lot on offer in the following positions of the overall classification.