Remco Evenepoel made a powerful statement with a superb 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 finish, dropping Romain Bardet just over three kilometres from the end.
Evenepoel struggled badly on Friday, explaining his world championships efforts back in August, where he won the time-trial in Glasgow, had disrupted his training and scuppered his preparation.
The Belgian slunk over the line 27 minutes behind Jumbo-Visma rival and stage winner Jonas Vingegaard to end his hopes of competing in the general classification.
Sepp Kuss kept the red jersey with Jumbo-Visma still hogging the top three overall, 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 said. “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 attack from the very start in a blistering opening to the race on a baking hot day. Eventually he and 23 other riders managed to breakaway, with the peloton sitting back ahead of the Col Hourcere climb.
Evenepoel took maximum points in the race for King of the Mountain, driving on with Romain Bardet ahead of the break.
On the Puerto de Larrau, roared on by hoards of Basque fans, he clinched the blue-polka-dot jersey for best climber — some consolation after his disastrous performance on Friday.
Evenepoel and Bardet hit the final 10 kilometres over four minutes ahead of the chase, ready to do battle for the stage, but the Belgian breezed away a long way before the finish.
“He’s just way stronger, I was beaten by Remco,” Bardet explained. “He’s incredible.”
On Sunday riders take on a hilly 15th stage, running 158.5 kilometres between Pamplona and Lekunberri.
? Un final repleto de emoción con Evenepoel recuperandose para llegar en solitario a meta. Revive el ÚLTIMO KM.
? A finish full of emotion as ?? Remco Evenepoel bounces back to solo to the line. Watch the final KM back.#LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/NN9QPFxvIv
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 9, 2023
