That it seems far away, the time when Remco Evenepoel won the boss the time trial of this Dauphiné criteriumseized the yellow jersey and seemed to have taken a beautiful ascendant on two rivals for the Tour de France, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | lease a bike) and above all Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) … It was only 5 days ago, but since then, the Belgian has undergone the law of the Danish and Slovenian and mountain, and even the outsider Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) passed him to finish this week in the final 4th row, more than 4 minutes from the world champion. While he felt throughout the test far ahead of his form last year, the leader of the Soudal Quick-Step paradoxically resorts with a feeling of inferiority and helplessness in the face of the domination of the two cadors of Tourthe gap with them appearing to have further enlarged despite his progress.
VIDEO – REMCO Evenepoel helpless against POGACAR and VINGEGAARD
“I am still far from the two big ones in the mountains … I have to work”
A difficult situation to swallow, as he entrusted to the end of an 8th stage on which he showed best and fought. “”I am still far from Pogacar and Vingegaard. It is as if the high pace of their teammates was a rhythm of training for them. Sometimes it discourages me when I see them attacked thoroughly, while I myself am already at the limit. Today 'Sunday) again, that's what happened“he explained in the form of a confession of helplessness. But lhe Olympic champion therefore knows what to do to remedy it. “”I have to become an even better climber. My time trial is perfect, but I have to work on the climbs. I am still far from the two big ones in this area. I hope to be able to get closer. I have to work on these rhythm changes, when the tempo is already high and you have to go to the max for five minutes, it's not really my nature“.
Despite everything, Evenepoel wants to learn a few positive lessons from this last day and this week, with some extenuating circumstances. “”I am happy with my sensations of the day. It was not great yet, but it was better. It's a bit like the copy of last year: the previous two days, I was not at best, but the last day, it improves. I am happy with this last day. I have A little underestimated the fall in which I was involved a few days ago, and I also suffered from allergieswhich prevented me from being at the best of my form two days in a row“.
“It is obvious that I was often alone … Landa will be missing a lot”
The other negative point is the alarming observation of the loneliness of the Belgian in the mountains, very quickly isolated within the Wolfpack In the middle of the armadas UAE et Comma. “It is obvious that I was often alone. There are still a few guys who participate in the Tour of Switzerland, let's see how they manage. The following week will be important to make decisions. But it is already certain that Mikel (Landa, Editor's note) will be missed. He's my main teammate. There is still time before the Tour de France and we are confident to be there with a good team and in better form “, the conclusion Remco Evenepoellucid.
