Although he did not achieve a stage victory (except for the Time Trial) in the Volta ao Algarve, Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel achieved the final victory in the competition. In a fierce dispute in Alto do Malhão, Evenepoel was surpassed by Daniel Martinez, but maintained his position in the General Classification in the competition.
Strategic decision in Alto do Malhão
“I am very happy with the final victory,” said Evenepoel immediately after crossing the finish line in Alto do Malhão. “Also with the team’s performance. It was a complicated situation on a difficult stage, with a breakaway group of 20 cyclists and an attack by Wout van Aert.”
“We managed to remain calm in all situations, thanks also to the experience of someone like Mikel Landa. I’m very proud”.
Mechanical problem affected Evenepoel’s performance
However, the final stage was not without challenges for the Belgian cyclist. During the last 20 km of the race, Evenepoel experienced problems with the front gear shifter on his bike, which did not allow him to shift to the smaller disc during the climb. This forced him to pedal in a higher gear than he would normally use, which certainly affected his performance.
“I have mixed feelings,” he admitted. “Because of the mechanical problem, I had to do the entire climb with the big disc, although I prefer to spin. As a result, my muscles were exhausted from the final fight and I simply had no energy left for the final contest. It’s a shame, I think I could have won today.”
Next challenge
Despite the disappointment, Evenepoel was aware that overall victory was the most important prize. “It’s a great result,” he said. “I should be happy. I really wanted to win here, but that’s how life is. I’m already looking forward to the next races on my calendar.”