white jersey and third of the general, Remco Evenepoel abandons in the Tourmalet during the 14th stage

The Olympic champion set foot on the ground eight kilometers from the Col du Tourmalet summit, when he had been distant for several kilometers.

Thunderbolt on the big loop: third in the Tour de France 2024, and again claiming the podium this year, Remco Evenepoel (Sudal Quick-Step) abandoned during the 14th stage between Pau and Superbagnères, Saturday July 19. In difficulty from the foot of the Col du Tourmalet, and quickly distant, the Olympic champion set foot on the ground eight kilometers from the summit, for his second participation in the big loop.

Third in the general ranking and wearer of the white jersey, Remco Evenepoel experienced a complicated start of Tour de France, and appeared in difficulty since the start of the Pyrenean stages. The Olympic champion of the time trial had notably been caught by Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), Friday July 18, during the time between Loudenvieille and Peyragudes. Remco Evenepoel leaves the Route du Tour with a stage victory, thanks to its success during the time trial around Caen.

Already released by the other podium candidates in the ascent to Hautacam on Thursday, before returning to the mind, Remco Evenepoel had again appeared weakened on Friday, during the time trial which climbed Peyragudes. An exercise which he normally loves, but which he concluded in 12th place, two minutes and 39 seconds from the winner, Tadej Pogacar. “I didn't have the legs I wanted, it was going at the start. But after 4-5 minutes in the climb, I felt like empty”he declared, shot, on arrival on Saturday.

“I did a preparation and a warm -up properly …”so surprised the Belgian, caught up in the final by Jonas Vingegaard, who left two minutes after him. “I did not focus on Jonas, I knew that at my pace there was a chance that he took me back. It is a very weak performance. In Hautacam, it was not good, in Peyragudes it was worse.”

“Morally he certainly took a blow on his head in Hautacam, he had a disappointing new day here. It will be complicated the next few days if they continue to do without that”anticipated Laurent Jalabert on the bicycle club set, after the disillusionment of Peyragudes. “He was supposed to be better prepared than last year, where he had arrived after his fall in the Tour of the Basque Country, and he is worse. We hear him very rarely speak in such a defeatist”added Thomas Voeckler.

Trapped by a border during the first stage, Remco Evenepoel had slightly caught up with his victory during the 5th stage, on the time trial for specialists drawn around Caen, and wore from the white jersey of best young. The Belgian even had – timidly – attacks on July 14, on the Route du Mont -Dore. But the third in the Tour de France 2024 posted its current limits on the first two Pyrenean stages, before cracking from the start of the third, in the ascent of the Tourmalet. A step that also forced Matthias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) abandoned.