Remco Evenepoel abandoned during the 14th stage of the Tour de France. Sudal Quick-Step, wearing the white jersey for the best youngster, was released at the start of the first ascent of the day, the Tourmalet.
Obviously decreased, the Olympic champion set off on the ground just over 100 km from the finish and returned to his team’s car, visibly moved and upset by his poor performance. Evenepoel was still third from the general at 7: 24 of the Tadej Pogacar yellow jersey.
“The word abandonment is not part of the vocabulary of Remco Evenepoel”, begins our journalist Sport Serge Vermeiren. “He admits that having three days in a row without having good legs on the Tour de France, it is not normal. It was his sports director who pushed him to abandon. »»
We will one day find Remco
For Serge Vermeire, we can only expect a return in force of the Belgian runner: “What saddens us a lot is that at 25 years old, Remco continues hard. Three big falls, we remember, the Tour of Lombardy, where he almost lost his life, we remember it. Each time he returned, that’s the positive side, by working, mental. This is why we want to say that we will one day find Remco, that’s for sure ”.
He is the fourth Belgian to abandon in this Tour, after Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Jasper de Buyst (Lotto) and Steff Cras (Totalenergies).
A disappointing Friday day
After two mountain stages at the Tour de France, Remco Evenepoel (Sudal Quick-Step) was already more than seven minutes late in the general classification. At the end of his disappointing time trial towards Peyragudes, where he finished only 12th, a slaughtered Evenepoel did not hide.
“It was bad, just super bad,” he said shortly in front of the Cameras of Sporza and VTM. “I’m not sure what to say right now. I’m sorry to stand here in front of you with so few words. »»
The good sensations have disappeared
“The start was good, but after five minutes in the ascent, the good sensations disappeared and it became a fight to survive to the summit. I fully collapsed. I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s the same story as in the Dauphiné. »»
That he also had a problem of derailleur along the way is not an excuse, according to Remco Evenepoel. “It didn’t make the difference. It may have lasted five or six seconds, no more. The sensations were bad and that’s the reason for my poor performance and the bad time. »»
However, keeping your third place in the general classification and your best young young jersey with a few seconds in advance does not change much for the runner of Schepdael. “It’s just a dressing on a wound. It doesn’t make me much for now. I don’t care. I am simply very disappointed with my time trial. »»
