'I'm further along than last year' - Remco Evenepoel defiant despite Critérium du Dauphiné setback

Remco Evenepoel endured another sobering outing at the Critérium du Dauphiné on stage 7 as he conceded more ground to Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vinegaard, but the Belgian is drawing solace with his progress relative to the same point last year. 

After losing the yellow jersey to Pogacar at Combloux on Friday, Evenepoel was again off the pace on the final haul up Valmeinier 1800 on stage 7. He was distanced immediately when Pogacar launched his winning attack with 12km to go, and he came home 2:39 down in fifth place.

In the overall standing, Evenepoel lies 4:11 behind Pogacar in fourth, and he is more than three minutes behind Vingegaard. The men who finished ahead of him at last year’s Tour de France seem to be operating on a different plane here.

“It was another super difficult day,” Evenepoel told Sporza. The Soudal Quick-Step rider confessed that he simply had no response when Pogacar unleashed his winning move. “It was a bit the same story as yesterday. My legs were empty as we approached the finish.”

Vingegaard was also distanced by Pogacar, but in contrast to Evenepoel, the Dane managed to limit his losses to 14 seconds by the summit. Evenepoel had delivered sound beatings to Vingegaard and Pogacar in the midweek time trial at this Dauphiné, but the winners of the past five Tours have been operating on another level in the mountains.

Evenepoel was reluctant, however, to discuss whether or not he had closed the gap on Pogacar and Vingegaard in comparison to twelve months ago, when he placed third behind them at the Tour. 

“I’m not going to answer that,” Evenepoel said. “I have to look at where I was last year [in the Dauphiné]. I finished seventh, behind ‘smaller’ names. So I’m further along than last year. I have to focus on myself and take it day by day.”

The 2024 Dauphiné was Evenepoel’s first race after breaking his collarbone at Itzulia Basque Country in April and he suffered accordingly in the mountains. By contrast, he began this year’s Dauphiné 1.5kg lighter than a year ago, and his coach Koen Pelgrim has expressed hope that Evenepoel will not be forced to chase his condition during his final Tour training camp at Tignes.

For now at least, Evenepoel is some way behind Pogacar and Vingegaard, and he is also trailing Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), who might prove a rival for the white jersey and the final podium at the Tour. The German lies third overall at the Dauphiné, 1:50 ahead of Evenepoel.

“Lipowitz is very strong, but last year there were also guys like Carlos Rodriguez and Matteo Jorgenson up there and in the end, they finished behind me at the Tour,” Evenepoel said.

“You often have guys who are a bit better here than in the Tour or who maintain the same level while the rest are getting even better. It is great what he is doing, but hopefully he is already at the top of his game.”