Remco Evenepoel showed yesterday that he is ready to fight for the podium at the Tour de France, by finishing second in the first Alpine stage to Valloire. One of the anticipated weaknesses of Evenepoel, his team, didn't show during the fourth stage as the Belgian was never isolated at the front. One of his teammates, Ilan Van Wilder, got his revenge afterwards.
Van Wilder thinks that the Tour team of Soudal - Quick-Step has received too much unnecessary criticism from media, experts and fans in the months leading in the Grande Boucle. "I'm going to take a moment to express my disappointment to the media," he begins in conversation with Het Nieuwsblad. "There is always commentary on the team and that is not nice to hear."
"I’ll say it like it is: we really feel like shit sometimes," the 24-year-old Van Wilder doesn’t mince his words. "People forget that we’re young and that for many it’s the first Tour."
Yesterday, we have witnessed the collective strength of UAE Team Emirates in its (nearly) full extent, with Tadej Pogacar's team pacing up most of the Galibier while still keeping three riders in the front group. Van Wilder is well aware that is something Wolfpack can't ever really match. "Sorry, but teams like UAE Team Emirates. They are not domestiques, but all leaders who ride for at least two million euros. That says it all. I always hear the same thing: they are not going to do it with those guys. They do not have the team for it. I am a bit fed up with it."
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