On to the subsequent factor. After Tuesday’s spectacular Tour de France efficiency within the Alps by Remco Evenepoel, Soudal-QuickStep administration are already eying the subsequent crunch GC stage and hoping that the Belgian star will shine equally brightly in Friday’s time trial.
Evenepoel each claimed second place on stage 4 behind lone winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), 35 seconds again, shifting as much as second total, 45 seconds down.
On Wednesday morning earlier than stage 5, Soudal-QuickStep sports activities director Davide Bramati was upbeat concerning the probabilities of Evenepoel placing on a fantastic efficiency on Friday’s flat 25.7 kilometre race towards the clock. But he additionally warned that it will first be essential to get by the subsequent two flat levels with none issues.
Bramati agreed, nonetheless, that the omens have been good for Evenepoel for Friday’s time trial. His feedback echoed the reactions of Evenepoel’s teammates after stage 4, with roommate Louis Vervaeke telling Het Laatste Nieuws: “He’s just like the Remco I acknowledge from when he received the Vuelta” – received by Evenepoel in 2022.
“For positive we’re very comfortable, he’s there. Now there are two simpler days for the GC guys after which the TT, however for positive yesterday was a fantastic day,” Bramati advised Cyclingnews earlier than stage 5’s flat 177. 4 kilometre run from Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne to Saint Vulgas.
“Everybody knew already from the beginning of this 12 months’s Tour that UAE was the group to do the job they did yesterday. Then when Pogačar went for it, Remco tried however I don’t assume he misplaced something [significant]. It’s good for Soudal. Also [Mikel] Landa mendacity seventh total can be essential within the coming levels, too.”
Bramati is optimistic that the time trial represents a superb alternative for the present world champion within the speciality to make inroads on his GC rivals.
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“We will see, I feel so, we all know Remco likes time trials and he already did a superb one within the [Critérium du] Dauphiné,” Bramati mentioned. “For positive, now the essential factor is to get by these two [flat] levels with nothing taking place after which we’ll see.”
Regarding the battle for the rostrum, Bramati was somewhat extra cautious than Evenepoel himself, who had mentioned afterwards that “the nearer we get to the rostrum, the extra we’ve to battle for it.”
“We’ll see,” Bramati mentioned. “Yesterday was the primary exhausting day so we have to see what we are able to do. But for to this point very proud of what the group is doing.”
Bramati’s upbeat temper was echoed throughout the Soudal-QuickStep camp. “Our group is doing what it must, our chief too,” Louis Vervaeke advised Het Laatste Nieuws. “It’s good to see that he will compete for the rostrum in Nice. I’m actually trying ahead to that and to proceed engaged on that with him.”
Form-wise, Vervaeke mentioned Evenepoel was in excellent situation. “He’s in fine condition. Like the Remco I acknowledge from when he received the Vuelta. He was very relaxed for this stage. A bit an excessive amount of, I believed.
“I believed this was a extremely essential stage, he took it flippantly. That is an indication that he has a variety of confidence in himself. And I’ve confidence in him too.”
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