Remco Evenepoel supposed to check himself within the finale of stage 3 of the Critérium du Dauphiné, and he duly readied himself on the wheel of Primož Roglič on the shallow rise in the direction of the end at Les Estables.
A sluggish puncture, nonetheless, meant that the duel by no means materialised. Fairly than contest stage victory, Evenepoel was content material to handle the state of affairs and roll dwelling in the principle peloton, three seconds down on the day’s winner Derek Gee.
“Ultimately I had a small flat tyre – not an entire flat however a sluggish puncture,” Evenepoel defined afterwards. “It was fairly robust to maintain going with that within the final 3k, however in any other case I might have misplaced numerous time, so it was robust. I needed to work arduous, however I managed to stick with the group.”
The Critérium du Dauphiné marks Evenepoel’s return to competitors after fracturing his collarbone within the mass crash at Itzulia Basque Nation, and he downplayed expectations earlier than the race started, insisting that he had few ambitions past enhancing his situation forward of his Tour de France debut.
On the Col de la Loge on Monday, Evenepoel had most popular to not attempt to chase stage victory, however he approached the finale of stage 3 with a unique strategy, a minimum of till he felt his tyre begin to deflate.
“I actually needed to go for it at the moment however as soon as I felt I had the sluggish puncture, it was recreation over,” Evenepoel stated. “I felt good, and I needed to go for it. We stated within the race we have been going to strive as a result of the final ok was actually not simple in any respect. It was a end that ought to have suited me, however the tyre determined otherwise. Now it’s time to deal with tomorrow.”
Evenepoel faces the primary actual examination of his kind within the demanding 34.4km time trial from Saint-Germain-Laval to Neulise on Wednesday. Because the world champion within the self-discipline, Evenepoel is the logical favorite for stage victory, whereas the course affords a really helpful take a look at forward of the 2 time trials on the Tour.
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“I believe it’s a really robust time trial,” stated Evenepoel, who has been warming down on his time trial bike all week. “It’s nearly pan flat to start with after which about 15km into the TT, it begins to roll up, a bit like at the moment truly.
“It’s a TT that’s fairly lengthy, so it’s a must to tempo it effectively and ensure you have one thing for the ultimate half. It’s one I like. I used to be trying ahead to this one already through the altitude camp.”
Evenepoel received his first time trial of the 12 months on the Volta ao Algarve, however a crash denied him on the opening day of Itzulia Basque Nation, the place he positioned fourth in a brief take a look at received by Roglič.
Their duel on Wednesday is prone to be the story of the day, not least as a result of each males will view the Tour de France time trials as pivotal to their hopes of beating Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar.
This 12 months’s Tour de France contains a 25km particular person time trial to Gevrey-Chambertin within the opening week, whereas the race concludes with a tricky, 34km take a look at from Monaco to Good that takes within the climb of La Turbie and the Col d’Èze.
“If there’s one stage I am on this week, it is Wednesday, simply to see how my shoulder comes by means of it,” Evenepoel instructed RTBF. “After that, we’ll see how my legs carry out. If I get an excellent consequence, I will have the ability to depart this Dauphiné feeling good. It will likely be an vital day. I will be aiming for the rostrum, and we’ll see what our rivals do. If it ends with a win, a lot the higher.”
Within the general standings, Evenepoel lies thirty third general, 13 seconds behind the yellow jersey Gee and 6 seconds down on Roglič.
Soudal-QuickStep directeur sportif Tom Steels echoed Evenepoel’s ideas, insisting that the Dauphiné was a way to an finish moderately than a purpose in itself.
“An important factor is that he feels higher day after day and that he has good sensations on the finish of the Dauphiné,” Steels instructed RTBF.
“We’ll see the place we’re after the time trial. A time trial of that distance is at all times an excellent take a look at. He shall be very motivated for that, particularly with the rainbow jersey on his again. He’s going to do the whole lot to be the very best.”
