"This is the stage I was most looking forward to" - Remco Evenepoel eyes Tour de Suisse queen stage

Remco Evenepoel starts the queen stage of the Tour de Suisse in third place in the overall classification, well within reach of the GC win. He faces tough competition, but is eager to ride through the hardest stage of the race which features a few mountain passes and high altitude.

“This is the stage I was most looking forward to, the climbs should suit me. It is completely different from yesterday. I hope to be able to compete with the best riders," Evenepoel said this morning at the start of the stage. "I especially don't want to lose too much time, so that I can still catch up in the final time trial. Gall is also a top favorite today. Although it becomes more difficult for him to ride away. His team now has to check."

He has struggled on the last two mountain stages but has limited his losses to be well within range of yellow. Today will be a crucial day, he reports that he's been feeling better as the race goes on and the longer ascents of today could suit him better. “It goes above 2,000 meters three times. That will be especially for the climbers, in principle, that must be Remco," the team argue.

"But we also want to send someone along in the breakaway, to use it later in the race in function of Evenepoel. Other teams will have that plan. So I expect a fast opening phase with many attacks.” The World Champion seeks his first stage win since the time-trial day at the Giro d'Italia where he had to abandon due to a Covid-19 infection.