'Jonas rode very defensively all week' - Remco Evenepoel rues crash and missed chances in Catalunya

Remco Evenepoel closed out the race with another podium level performance, launching multiple attacks in the final stage but falling short in the sprint. His aggressive riding lit up the finale, even if the outcome did not reflect his efforts, as he was unable to break clear. He eventually finished third, behind Dorian Godon and surprise winner Brady Gilmore.

“There was a lot of headwind on the local circuit, so it didn’t really suit me as an attacker,” he said to Sporza. “In the end I still had a small gap, but Mas seemed eager to close it, though I don’t really know why. Then the focus immediately had to shift to the sprint.”

“Was there more possible? I’m not frustrated, because many riders had a chance to win this stage,” Evenepoel added. “Jonas rode very defensively again, like he has done all week, really. There was nothing I could do about that.” The remark about Jonas Vingegaard underlined a tactical stalemate that repeatedly neutralised attacks.

Evenepoel also pointed to a small misjudgement in the finale. “I thought the finish was a bit closer after the final corner, so maybe I went a little too early. But when you go, you have to commit fully.”

The decisive blow to his week came earlier. A crash on stage three disrupted both his rhythm and his ambitions, leaving visible damage that lingered through the remaining stages.

“Without that crash, there would definitely have been more possible this week,” he said. “It’s unfortunate, but that’s racing. We can’t really draw too many conclusions from the general classification because of that.”

Evenepoel still managed to secure fifth overall, 2.13 behind Vingegaard, a result he considers solid given the circumstances. “The fact that I still ended up fifth, especially after working hard at the front yesterday, is not bad. I don’t think I rode a bad Volta a Catalunya. Nowadays everything has to be 100 percent perfect if you want to win a race like this.”

The physical impact of the crash was significant. “That crash took away a lot of my chances. A big part of my body was open, and I had stiff muscles and a tight lower back. That costs you a few percent.”

Looking ahead, his focus will shift toward building to the Ardennes classics, where Evenepoel take on Tadej Pogačar in Liége-Bastogne-Liége.