When Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard attacked in tandem on the second and final ascent of the San Luca climb of stage 2 at the 2024 Tour de France, there were some quite reasonable fears that the GC fight might already be over. Fighting back strongly and impressively however, Remco Evenepoel ensured it wasn't yet a two-horse race.
Soudal - Quick-Step team boss Patrick Lefevere was understandably keeping a close eye on proceedings and gave his post-stage reflections to Het Nieuwsblad. “On the first time up San Luca, Evenepoel was very well positioned at the front," Lefevere notes, although he wasn't totally happy with the Belgian's positioning the second time around. "On the second time I had the impression that it was a bit more difficult for him to pass.”
As such, when Pogacar and Vingegaard began to move clear, Evenepoel was unable to follow the two Tour de France winners immediately. "Remco had to come from far away when Tadej made his move," explains Lefevere. " Jonas went along immediately. In the descent they (Evenepoel and Richard Carapaz ed.) lingered for a long time at about 15 seconds. In the end, Remco eventually closed the gap, but I had the impression that Carapaz did not help that much.”
Despite the impressive recovery and the positive signs for Evenepoel, who now sits 2nd in the general classification, Lefevere is opting to keep a reserved outlook on the proceeding with just two stages gone. “We also have to be honest. The two in front (Pogacar and Vingegaard) have both won the Tour de France twice. We shouldn't start fantasizing," Lefevere concludes, not yet being drawn to comment on the Col du Galibier stage that is looming in the not too distant future. "We shouldn't look too far ahead. First there is tomorrow's stage, which is considered flat. We have to take it day by day."
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