Remco Evenepoel, a time to set the record straight after a setback departure

The double Olympic champion is the big favorite of the time trial of the 5th stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday in Caen.

“In an ideal world, Remco Evenepoel takes the yellow jersey in Caen, and launches a crazy race for the general”predicted one of the big names in the organization of the Tour de France in Franceinfo: Sport before the big departure in Lille. Missed. Because, in four stages, several strokes of spell have already rebatted the cards. Admittedly, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) remains the big favorite of the time trial of the 5th stage, Wednesday July 9, around Caen.

But the double Olympic champion must (especially) take the opportunity to return to the race after a failed departure. At the time of laying its wheels of Olympic champion and the world of time trial in the Norman countryside, Remco Evenepoel has an unexpected 58 second delay on Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) and 50 seconds on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease A Bike). Failing to take the yellow, the Belgian must do everything so as not to say goodbye after only five steps.

However, it all started as in a dream for the third of the last Tour de France. Discreet last summer for his (successful) baptism on the big loop, the Belgian was welcomed in Rockstar from Lille, where his Belgian compatriots had made the short trip in number. But the capital of Flanders is not going to leave him a good memory. And for good reason: there is a disbursement of 39 seconds on the evening of the 1st stage, however promised to sprinters.

“We had to believe that it was just going to the sprint, so it's a big mistake”he regretted after being trapped by a border initiated by the teammates of Jonas Vingegaard 17 km from the finish. “It's always a little crazy to start like that … These are stupid seconds that we lose. We have been to sleep. It is a collective error”tanned the leader of Sudal Quick-Step, before removing the troops.

“There are 20 stages left. Last year, we had a deficit of 40 seconds after four stages, there it is the same after a day only. But you have to do with and move forward.”

Remco Evenepoel, after the 1st step

In Franceinfo: Sport

The rush around the Belgian team's buses at the arrival in Lille alone testified to the magnitude of the jolt of the day. But, at 25, the winner of the Vuelta 2022 now knows how to keep his calm: “We will try to survive, to cross the first ten days without problem”relativizes the 2022 world champion, evoking plans B and C. Plans that certainly did not bet on the fall on the third stage, in the last kilometers before the final sprint in Dunkirk.

Because after having reassured on the 2nd stage, arriving with the best in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Remco Evenepoel was again surprised in the final of a step promised to sprinters on Sunday. In the packaging before the sprint in Dunkirk, the Belgian was indeed sent to the carpet by his compatriot Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe). A new fright for Remco Evenepoel, who crossed the finish line in 158th position while holding the elbow, before reassuring his state of health by a large smile.

“Everything is fine, there is no problem”he added Tuesday, starting from Amiens, before once again reassuring himself in the finale for Putanchers in Rouen, holding the wheel of the best. Enough to do good in morale even if, because of the bonuses, he saw Tadej Pogacar (winner in Rouen) and Jonas Vingegaard (3rd) increase their lead. What motivate it on the eve of a time trial for pure specialist in the discipline around Caen, with 33 km of plain.

However, after the abandonments of Filippo Ganna and Stefan Bissegger, Remco Evenepoel advances as the last of the big favorites for stage victory. Before the big departure, he did not hide his ambitions, admitting that this time trial was his “Main objective”he who had offered his first victory on the Tour by winning the one between Nuit-Saint-Georges and Gevrey-Chambertin last year.

Beyond the stage victory, Remco Evenepoel hopes above all to make up for lost time on this time trial. And even do better. “58 seconds on Van der Poel and Pogacar, there is a way to take them back, we saw the advantage that I took on Tadej on the Dauphiné (…) It's completely flat, it suits me very well”, Thus launched the Belgian after the victory of his Slovenian rival on Tuesday in Rouen.