The shock gave way to resignation, a feeling infused in the Iberian air, with the powerful scent of acceptance of the superiority of Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) on this 77th edition. Asked about the Belgian during the press briefing on this day off, Joao Almeida (7th, + 4’32”) shared his amazement at the prowess of his young rival. Sitting by his side, Juan Ayuso (5th, + 2’36”) did not judge his eldest, even admitting to competing in a different race than that of the red jersey, alone in his world.
With the form that I have, I will try something
Tour of Spain
And now the chrono: Evenepoel for a new slap?
8 HOURS AGO
The light absent, the mines already marked by the efforts, the Almeida-Ayuso duo answered questions from the press with ease, not evading any subject, even that concerning the status of leader. “Despite what may be said on Twitter or otherwise, we are team members, and we each have our opportunities.recalled Almeida. Whatever I can teach Juan (Ayuso), I will do it, even if I am also still a young runner.”
Same story on his right: “We spent the last two months together, in trainingconfided the youngest of the Vuelta. Cycling is just a part of life and it’s not the end of the world if you have a bad day on the bike.“A philosophy without attachment or remorse, like the boy, with a pimply face but a mature mind.
Meintjes withstood the devastating comeback of Evenepoel: the finish of the 9th stage
“I did not think of a particular objective before departurehe added. I first wanted to see how the shape responded, just to avoid being disappointed. But I definitely want to win and with the form I have, I’m going to try something. I will see day by day. To be on the Vuelta podium would be to fulfill a childhood dream, which was unthinkable five years ago. I still have a lot of Vuelta to play, and even if I don’t finish on the podium, it won’t be the end of the world.”
At the top of this podium sits a certain Remco Evenepoel, a real machine in his debut, whose progress was stopped dead by a spectacular fall on the Tour of Lombardy 2020. The Belgian took refuge in work to reshape a physique still a chubby hair to calibrate against the best climbers on the planet. The bet is successful, the rivals can only bow. “Right now, yes I think Evenepoel is unbeatableadmitted Almeida. According to my data, only a Pogacar could follow it. That’s how I felt the last few days. It’s just incredible but there are still two weeks left and we don’t know how it will be. Today, he is very good, and we can indeed say that he is almost unbeatable..”
Evenepoel: “I didn’t expect so much difference before Tuesday’s time trial”
Even if you should never claim victory too soon, especially before a hearty menu served on the Andalusian flanks, Juan Ayuso could only confirm the impression of his Portuguese teammate: “At the moment, he is competing in a different race. But to see what will happen in the future” The future, that’s all that remains for Almeida, in pursuit of a form that has continued to decline since a Giro left due to Covid. Despite this, the rider wants to be optimistic: “I did a good Tour de Burgos, but I knew that the level would be much lower than that of the Vuelta. I had no illusions about my level, which is far from that of a Remco Evenepoel. But the race is still long.” She risks being excessively so if the red jersey knocks out the race on Tuesday in Alicante.
Tour of Spain
The most beautiful images of the first nine stages
12 HOURS AGO
Tour of Spain
Evenepoel praises Alaphilippe: “I haven’t seen many world champions do that…”
12 HOURS AGO