Felt like flying today!🌈🚀🔥 Finishing off an amazing day on the TT bike with a win and the yellow jersey.🏆🟡 Important day ahead with our eyes on the GC.🐺👊🏻 #TheWolfpack
Evenepoel credits dominant time trial victory to obsessive preparation: "I knew every turn and it was necessary"
CyclingSaturday, 17 February 2024 at 13:26
Remco Evenepoel was in a class of his own in the individual time trial at the Tour of the Algarve on Saturday. The Belgian world champion finished seventeen seconds ahead of second-place Magnus Sheffield and, for instance, beat Wout van Aert by a minute over 22 kilometers. The outcome was the result of good legs, but above all, good preparation.
"A perfect time trial, probably. When you win, a time trial is always perfect," Evenepoel smiles from the rollers in the flash interview. "From the start, I had a pretty good feeling, and I knew the course well. After the Figueira Champions Classic on Monday, we scouted the course well with three laps, and this morning I did another two."
Crucial for the victory, Evenepoel asserts. "I knew all the turns by heart, and that was necessary because it was a technical time trial, with bumps and holes in the road. Tight turns too, so you had to know where you could take risks, and where not. Maybe it was a bit too technical in some places, but it was a beautiful time trial in this setting. I enjoyed every meter of it, and closing it off with a victory is even better."
Read more below the post!
Evenepoel eyes another stage win in the Algarve
"I had perfect coaching from the car, and we prepared perfectly," concludes Evenepoel, who, representing Soudal-Quick Step, now heads into the final mountain stage on Sunday with a 47-second lead over Daniel Felipe Martínez (BORA-hansgrohe). "It will all be about defending and being smart. The yellow jersey is the most important, but maybe we can go for another stage win."
In a conversation with VTM, the young all-rounder also looks ahead to what's coming on the final day. "It's not secured yet, but the lead is not bad. It's a very good sign that I could perform like this today. I just went full throttle from start to finish. We've adjusted the position a bit this winter, and the mechanics and performance team have looked at my gearing. It went very well. I can only be satisfied with the work of the entire team."
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024