Tour of Spain – Remco Evenepoel, to Belgium: “Let’s be calm, positive”
Remco Evenepoel went through a lot of feelings in the second week of the Tour of Spain. Untouchable on Tuesday during the time trial and in control on Thursday in the final climb of Penas Blancas, the Belgian also experienced difficult times, first losing his luxury lieutenant to a fall, Julien Alaphilippeduring the 11th stage, then by falling himself during the following day, and finally by conceding time on Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo-Visma) and Enric Mas (Movistar Team) during the stages of the Sierra de la Pandera on Saturday and the Sierra Nevada on Sunday. The Belgian of The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team is always in red, with more than 1’30” on Roglicand that is the most important thing.
Video – Remco Evenepoel: “My lead is quite comfortable but…”
“I hope I won’t get sick in the last week, that’s my biggest fear”
“After the crash, I could barely stand up on the pedals. As a result, I lost a lot of time on Saturday, but it wasn’t excessive either.”confides the runner of Wolf Pack this Monday during a virtual press conference, before talking about his two main rivals. “Roglic and Mas are doing well. On Saturday it was Roglic who was the best, and yesterday (Sunday) it was Mas. But as Mas was quite far from me overall, I didn’t follow him. began to ride at my own pace because I was afraid of exceeding my limits. In the end, after a hard day like this, I limited the loss of time. This arrival above 2,500 meters was a good test. As we went up it got more difficult. I didn’t explode after responding to a few attacks, that gives me confidence for the future.”
Confirming that he will adopt a cautious tactic in the final week – “the more I can run defensively and limit the loss of time, the better” – Remco Evenepoel Of course, his opponents are afraid… but he is also very suspicious of the Covid, which can strike at any time. “I hope I won’t get sick in the last week, that’s my biggest fear. The Covid circulates within the peloton, I really hope that I will be spared”, he explains. If he wins the course until Sunday and wins this 77th Tour of Spain, Remco Evenepoel end 34 years without a final victory for a Belgian on a Grand Tour (Johan De Muynck, Tour of Italy 1978). The native of Schepdaal spoke about the great expectation that reigns in the flat country.
“It’s sure that we will fight for the jersey, we have no choice”
“I hope everyone will take it easy, there are still six days of racing left which will not be easy at all, even if they will not be the hardest climbs”he tempers. “The duration of La Vuelta and fatigue will start to come into play, but for sure we will fight for the shirt, we have no choice. My lead is quite comfortable, but it’s not It’s not over at all, so let’s be calm, stay positive and we’ll see what the result will be on Sunday morning. In any case, the attention there is in Belgium motivates me”to end Remco Evenepoel.
What an effort ðŸ’#LaVuelta22
Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/mUTNvn1CHO
— Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team (@qst_alphavinyl) September 4, 2022