Remco Evenepoel is having fun with his Tour de France debut, regardless of the expectations on his younger shoulders and the fatigue of racing slowly accumulating in his legs.
Evenepoel’s stage 7 time trial victory forward of Tadej Pogačar (UAE Workforce Emirates), Primož Roglič (Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) was arguably essentially the most prestigious time trial victory of his profession, much more so than his 2023 world time trial title.
The whole lot on the Tour de France is a brand new expertise and a brand new success for Evenepoel. He’s eager to savour all of it and appears to have fallen in love with the game’s largest race.
“I am going to by no means come again, I hate it,” he joked when requested about his Tour debut.
“I am kidding in fact. I am loving each minute of the Tour. I am second general after per week of racing. I am having fun with it, I am relaxed and profitable a stage is fairly particular. I am happy and honoured to be right here and up there with the most important and greatest. For certain I am going to come again. I’ve no choice…”
Evenepoel raced in the very best younger rider’s white jersey however confirmed he’s the world time trial champion with an excellent efficiency regardless of a second of concern when he thought he had punctured. He was quickest in any respect three time checks and beat Pogačar by 12 seconds, with Roglic at 34 seconds and Vingegaard at 37 seconds and closed the hole within the Tour de France GC standings.
“As we speak was a brilliant excessive stage, the gaps had been small and so this can be a nice victory. All my household are right here too, so it is much more particular. I am going to always remember this victory,” he stated, his voice wavering barely in emotion.
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“I anticipated Tadej to be near me, he is the most effective chrono males in Grand Tour racing and a troublesome man to beat. I’ve to be glad and we’ve got to maintain constructing on this.”
Evenepoel might construct in the direction of and goal a spot on the rostrum however he’s conserving his ambitions in test, no less than for now. He sees Pogačar because the winner of the Tour, who will go on to dominate within the mountain phases however refuses to just accept defeat totally.
“Tadej is from a unique class and I believe he ought to win the Tour de France fairly simply. Tadej is just about unbeatable. However you by no means know….”
After his large effort within the time trial, Evenepoel can take pleasure in a quiet day within the peloton throughout the rolling eighth stage from Semur-en-Auxios to Colombey-les-deux-Eglises on Saturday because the sprinters are anticipated to regulate the assaults.
The subsequent huge day for Evenepoel and his GC rivals is on Sunday, with the gravel stage that begins and ends in Troyes. The 199km stage contains 47km and 14 sectors of gravel. The ultimate six sectors are packed into the ultimate 35km, making for an actual check for the general contenders.
Evenepoel has usually criticised gravel phases in Grand Excursions, however his love for the Tour de France means he is able to race on Sunday.
“It will be a troublesome stage. I do know the area from Paris-Good, the roads are simply up and down,” he stated.
“The gravel sectors usually are not that harmful in comparison with, say, Strade Bianche or the 2021 Giro d’Italia. I’ve performed a recon and a few sectors are laborious, with steep begins however this can be a very stunning gravel stage.
“It’s going to be necessary to be in an excellent place all day. It is a lengthy stage and comes after 9 days, so there shall be fatigue within the legs.
“It is debatable not a stage that may win you the Tour however when you have dangerous luck within the flawed second it might make you lose the Tour.
“If all goes usually, there will not be huge gaps between the GC favourites or possibly not even any gaps. However we’ve got to be ready and prepared for an enormous day of racing.”
