Visma defends Vingegaard after Evenepoel criticism in Catalunya
Remco Evenepoel’s frustration was clear yesterday after a chaotic stage in the Volta a Catalunya, where a promising late move with Jonas Vingegaard turned into a tactical standoff. Visma-Lease a Bike, however, defended their approach a day later, insisting the situation called for patience rather than full commitment.
When post-race asked about their cooperation in the finale, Evenepoel responded with biting irony: “That was great!”
The Belgian had animated the stage from distance, launching a powerful acceleration inside the final thirty kilometres. Only Vingegaard was able to follow after a strong effort to bridge across. What followed, however, left Evenepoel visibly irritated, as the expected collaboration never truly materialised.
From the Visma Lease a Bike camp, there is little sense of controversy. Sports director Marc Reef dismissed the criticism. “No, not really,” he said to Sporza when asked if he understood the reaction. “We were in a very strong position in the front group. The cooperation was good, and we were surprised by Evenepoel’s attack. Jonas reacted on instinct, but at that moment it was more up to Remco to continue.”
Reef also confirmed the intent behind Vingegaard’s approach. “Was the idea to sprint with the two of them and not fully commit? In the end, yes.”
Vingegaard himself echoed that reasoning yesterday after the race. “I was happy to follow and contribute a bit. Why he was gesturing? He wasn’t happy with me. It’s cycling. Everyone has their tactics.”
The discussion now centres on what was gained and what may have been missed. Evenepoel’s move had briefly opened the door to a significant gap, but without full cooperation, the advantage proved difficult to maintain.
Visma, however, maintains that their broader strategy remained intact. “We could also have taken time without that attack,” Reef argued. “If that move doesn’t happen, we ride away from the others together. That’s where it started.”
The irony in the story is that Evenepoel had complimented Vingegaard ahead of the race. On Sunday he had welcomed the idea of aggressive racing alongside Jonas Vingegaard, referencing his attacking style in Paris-Nice. “It was nice to see him race like that. Hopefully we get more of it this week,” he had said.
With the Tour on the horizon, this may not be the last time their approaches clash.
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