"You can't expect everything after you've trained for only nine days" - Remco Evenepoel loses more time at the Tour de Suisse

Despite beginning the race as the big favourite for overall victory, Remco Evenepoel has failed to set his first race since the Giro d'Italia alight. Nevertheless, sitting 4th in the GC at just 46 seconds down he remains optimistic.

"I felt much better already. Gall increased the pace seven kilometres from the top. I knew this climb inside out and chose my own pace," recapped the Soudal - Quick-Step leader in his post-stage interview with HLN. "Not full gas but not slow either. I was never really far away. Unfortunately I ceilinged a bit at 300 meters from the top. Otherwise, I would have crossed the line with those men and I would not have lost any time."

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With the podium of the race now being the stage winner Juan Ayuso in third, the man who started the day as leader Felix Gall in second and Mattias Skjelmose back in the race lead, it's still all to play for and Evenepoel realises that with a time-trial to come, he's by no means out of the battle.

"You can't expect everything after you've trained for only nine days. I feel better every day, that's positive. In top condition, I pedal about 15 watts more on average," he continued. "After all that has happened in the past month, I can only be satisfied. I race against men who are in very good shape and who are preparing for the Tour."

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Remco finishes this hard #TourdeSuisse2023 stage in tenth place after another strong effort 💪

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