VIDEO | Evenepoel on disastrous corner mistake with Pogacar and Vingegaard: "No-one to show us that we should go right"

Remco Evenepoel had in mind an attacking day just like yesterday but his plan backfired as the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider found himself off the race course during his late attack at today's stage of Tirreno-Adriatico.

“I felt good today and had a fantastic team around me, who worked hard to keep me protected. Then when UAE took over the pace-making, the speed increased and I knew that the right moment to attack had come. I was joined only by Pogacar and Vingegaard, and we went full gas on the descent and had a good gap, but then there was almost nothing and no- one to show us that we should go right, so instead of this we continued to ride straight ahead and our promising move ended there," a disappointed Evenepoel said after the finale. After he launched an attack in the penultimate climb of the day, he distances the GC group alongside Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard who were building a gap towards the final little climbs. However with 6 kilometers to go, just before a steep wall, the trio completely missed a right-turn, apparently not aware of the signaling.

Evenepoel was the worst hit, as he got back to course around 10 seconds behind the group he had distanced, but in the end he managed to return to the group and finish the stage safely within GC contention.

"Fortunately, I had the legs to make up the gap, and also with some help of Ballero [Davide Ballerini who had been in the breakaway], I managed to return in the pack, but it’s a pity how things turned out at a moment when they were looking so good," he concluded.

Evenepoel finished the day alongside Pogacar and Vingegaard as the duo formed part of the GC group that made it home 28 seconds after Warren Barguil. Tomorrow will be a completely different challenge as the riders go up the Monte Carpegna twice, in what is set to be a demolishing finale with big gaps to emerge.