“Whether I could have won Milano-Sanremo with this sprint?” – Remco Evenepoel laughs off cheeky question after Catalunya sprint thriller

Remco Evenepoel came within centimetres of opening his Volta a Catalunya 2026 campaign with victory, only to be denied on the line by Dorian Godon after a dramatic and exhausting sprint in Sant Feliu de Guixols.

In a finale shaped by late accelerations and constant changes in pace, the Belgian produced a powerful effort in the closing metres, surging back after initially being passed and forcing a photo finish. Despite hitting the line at greater speed, he was edged out by the narrowest of margins on the throw.

“Godon countered me, but then I came back again. It was close all the way to the line, and I can’t blame myself for anything,” the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader said in quotes collected by HLN post-stage.

Whilst Evenepoel was narrowly beaten by Godon at the line, the Belgian notably pushed Tom Pidcock, who had opened the sprint, into third place in the final metres. That detail did not go unnoticed.

Just days earlier, Pidcock had finished second at Milano-Sanremo, beaten only by Tadej Pogacar in a two-up sprint. Seeing Evenepoel overhaul the Brit late on prompted a tongue-in-cheek question in the mixed zone: with a sprint like that, should he have been at the Monument himself?

Evenepoel’s response made clear he was not getting carried away. “Whether I could have won Milano-Sanremo with this sprint?” he laughed. “That’s a completely different effort and a flat sprint.”

Evenepoel’s reaction remained measured, despite how close he came to victory. “My first feeling after the finish? That it was just not quite enough for me here again.”

The Olympic champion had positioned himself perfectly throughout the final kilometres, navigating a technical and fast run-in where being out of place even briefly could have ended his chances. “The coastal road was new for me, so I had to be at the front, and the team positioned me perfectly. After that, I was always well placed.”

Like many winners on this finish in recent years, he committed early in the sprint, a decision he stood by even after being narrowly beaten. “I went from far out, but everyone who has won here has done it that way. Godon just had a little bit more left.”

Despite missing out on the stage win, Evenepoel was clear about the positives. “It’s a shame I just missed out on the win, but it’s a good start to the week. I’m satisfied with how I feel.”

With more demanding terrain still to come, the Belgian suggested the opening stages may offer a brief moment of control before the race intensifies. “In the next two stages, I should be able to come through relatively calmly. After that, it will be four days full gas.”

For now, stage 1 provided an early indication of form, and while it did not deliver victory, it showed that Evenepoel already has the speed and positioning to match the very best, even in a chaotic and hard-fought sprint finish.