Evenepoel cleverly responds to Pogacar's 'butt joke' and dreams of more: "Maybe I'll drop Vingegaard on Sunday"

Remco Evenepoel was just short of making it in the fourteenth stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, but the young Belgian of Soudal-Quick Step seems to be getting closer and closer to the level of Jonas Vingegaard. Evenepoel lost about twenty seconds to the Dane on Saturday, but we can expect more from him on Sunday or in the third week.

The interaction between stage winner Tadej Pogacar and Evenepoel after the finish was perhaps quite telling. When Pogacar, lying on his bike, made a daring comment ("I like to see your ass"), Evenepoel cleverly responded: "I'd like to see yours more and not from 500 meters away." Laughter followed, and then a serious Evenepoel said: "I tried to follow Jonas, but was dropped just before the downhill section."

Continue reading below the video.

Evenepoel aiming even higher in Tour GC

Staying with Vingegaard was still just too much for the Belgian. However, Evenepoel showed the same bravado towards the rest of the Tour when speaking to HLN. "I think these are just the dynamics in this Tour, but I am getting quite close to Vingegaard's level. Today he dropped me, but maybe tomorrow I'll do the opposite. We keep looking at it day by day and, especially, keep working hard."

Team director Klaas Lodewyck was a bit more cautious. According to him, Pogacar and Vingegaard are still a bit ahead of his leader. "I am very satisfied. This third place was again the highest achievable. We really should not be concerned with those first two places. Remco gained nine seconds and some bonuses on Carlos Rodriguez. The other competitors are losing even more time, that is a good thing."

Continue reading below the video.

Evenepoel continues to fear Covid-19 infection

Normally, Evenepoel should only get better from here on out, unless the coronavirus also manages to affect him. Louis Vervaeke had to withdraw as a domestique on Saturday, but Evenepoel was not immediately worried. "Last year I had to leave the Giro due to Covid-19, I really don't want to experience it a second time. Certainly not with the beautiful race I'm currently riding. I'm on a good path for the podium. Hopefully, the bug doesn't catch me and I can keep going. The impact of Louis dropping out is significant, but the main men in the high mountains are still Hirt and Landa. As long as they don't get sick, it's okay, but of course, every rider who drops out is a loss."