"You can’t expect miracles... I haven’t been able to train properly yet" - Remco Evenepoel explodes at Liege-Bastogne-Liege to disappointing 59th placed finish

Remco Evenepoel has hardly put a foot wrong since making a triumphant return to racing at Brabantse Pijl earlier this month. At Liege-Bastogne-Liege however, this lack of race fitness perhaps made a difference for the first time as the Olympic champion exploded way out of race winning contention at the Ardennes Monument.

All the talk pre-race had been about an Evenepoel dual with Tadej Pogacar. At the line however, 3:11 separated the two superstars with the Soudal - Quick-Step leader finishing 59th as his rival took the win. “Races like this don’t lie,” admitted the Soudal Quick-Step team leader, in his immediate post-race interview afterwards, revealing he was struggling early, which led to him being out of position when Pogacar attacked on La Redoute. “If you’re feeling good, you’re always up front.”

Evenepoel has often been cited as a rider that has a tendency to make excuses when things don't go his way. This time though, the Belgian accepts he just simply wasn't up to standard on the day. “I’m not really disappointed, but it’s a shame I didn’t feel at my best in the finale - especially in this race. But I have to accept it," he concludes. "You can’t expect miracles. To reach peak form, you need a long training period. And I haven’t been able to train properly yet. That much was clear today.”

“He clearly didn’t have the legs. Simple as that,” added the Soudal - Quick-Step sports director Klaas Lodewyck about his team leader Evenepoel. “He came back strongly after his injury, but it’s common to see a setback follow. We just didn’t expect it to happen today - but that’s impossible to predict. I had a quick word with him. Of course, this isn’t fun. But it’s part of the sport. He has to reset and move on now.”