Remco Evenepoel made a robust assertion with an excellent solo stage 14 victory in the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday, the day after his Grand Tour defence crumbled.
The reinvigorated Soudal-QuickStep rider crossed the line with arms aloft on the Larra-Belagua mountain end, dropping Romain Bardet simply over three kilometres from the finish.
Evenepoel struggled badly on Friday, explaining his world championships efforts back in August, the place he gained the time-trial in Glasgow, had disrupted his coaching and scuppered his preparation.
The Belgian slunk over the line 27 minutes behind Jumbo-Visma rival and stage winner Jonas Vingegaard to finish his hopes of competing in the common classification.
Sepp Kuss stored the crimson jersey with Jumbo-Visma nonetheless hogging the prime three general, with Primoz Roglic second, and Vingegaard third.
“Yesterday was a very difficult day, also the evening — I couldn’t sleep too much, I had negative thoughts in my head,” Evenepoel stated. “Today I woke up and just told myself to make the best of it. I think I can be very proud with this answer, after yesterday.”
Evenepoel was on the assault from the very begin in a blistering opening to the race on a baking scorching day. Eventually he and 23 different riders managed to breakaway, with the peloton sitting back forward of the Col Hourcere climb.
Evenepoel took most factors in the race for King of the Mountain, driving on with Romain Bardet forward of the break.
On the Puerto de Larrau, roared on by hoards of Basque followers, he clinched the blue-polka-dot jersey for greatest climber — some comfort after his disastrous efficiency on Friday.
Evenepoel and Bardet hit the remaining 10 kilometres over 4 minutes forward of the chase, able to do battle for the stage, however the Belgian breezed away a great distance earlier than the end.
“He’s just way stronger, I was beaten by Remco,” Bardet defined. “He’s incredible.”
On Sunday riders tackle a hilly fifteenth stage, working 158.5 kilometres between Pamplona and Lekunberri.
🥹 Un remaining repleto de emoción con Evenepoel recuperandose para llegar en solitario a meta. Revive el ÚLTIMO KM.
😢 A end filled with emotion as 🇧🇪 Remco Evenepoel bounces back to solo to the line. Watch the remaining KM back.#LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/NN9QPFxvIv
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 9, 2023
