"To be 100 percent already tomorrow? That seems impossible" - Red Bull - BORA prepared for injured Evenepoel's return to the mountains

Stage 5 of the Volta a Catalunya will see the peloton finally head into the mountains, and with a profile that is rather brutal, featuring several climbs and a very different summit finish. Remco Evenepoel is having his first post-altitude camp climbing test in-race, but Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe believe it is unlikely that he will be at his best.

The Belgian crashed on stage 3, suffering multiple abrasions and bruises which have come at a cost. Whilst he did not suffer fractures or abandon the race, the pain was palpable during the fourth day of the Catalan competition.

“Making it through the day was the most important thing. He still had some pain, but overall it was fine. He didn’t complain on the radio," team DS Klaas Lodewyck said in words to Het Nieuwsblad following the finale in Camprodón.

The fourth stage was cut due to strong winds on the expected summit finish to Valter 2000 Setcases, which ultimately came as a positive for Evenepoel who managed to have a calmer day than expected on the bike, and without major efforts. That will have given him some more time to gather himself and focus ahead of the final three stages, each one of them having its own big challenges.

The team's performance coach Patxi Villa argues that the effects of the crash are still likely to be felt, specially on such a hard day, and that Evenepoel will not be at his best in the summit finish to the Coll de Pal. “Everything went okay, so this is already a victory. Normally the hardest moment comes 48 hours after a crash. To be 100 percent already tomorrow? That seems impossible.”

Dorian Godon set off as the race leader whilst Tom Pidcock sits ahead of Evenepoel in second place on the overall classification. The final 16-kilometer long climb is set to make for a lot of changes in the GC however, with Jonas Vingegaard being the man to beat.