Stage 7 runner-up Karel Vacek said the following about Remco Evenepoel when he beat him in juniors: "He's not special, he's mentally weaker than me"

The Czech Karel Vacek was close to victory today in the Gran Sasso stage of the Giro d'Italia. It is his best result in his four years as a professional despite the fact that he was a rider who promised a lot as a junior and, in fact, won several races at that time against Remco Evenepoel.

Precisely from that time there are statements by today's Team Corratec rider in which he put the Belgian back and a half. He told Ceska Televisie after stage 7 that "it's not special. When I beat him in the Lunigiana he was completely unpleasant after the race. I don't understand that a guy who is going to enter the WorldTour has no respect for his rivals."

As a junior, the current Team Corratec rider was one of the few who could offer Evenepoel competition, but since turning professional the two have followed very different paths. The Czech rider was however on the verge of taking his first pro win yesterday as he joined the right breakaway move, but finished second at the summit of Gran Sasso d'Italia.

Two spots behind Evenepoel led the peloton in, and the 22-year old does not fondly remember the reigning World Champion: "He was very angry and unprofessional at the finish line. It is not a special person. Physically he is not a bad rider, but tactically he is not mature. Mentally he is weaker than me."