Remco Evenepoel Claims Second Place in La Vuelta Time Trial
Soudal Quick-Step’s Remco Evenepoel put in a strong performance in the individual time trial of La Vuelta, finishing in second place and moving up in the general classification.
A rainy rest day did not dampen the spirits of the peloton as they resumed the Spanish Grand Tour in Valladolid. The 25.8-kilometer flat time trial was expected to create significant gaps in the race, and Evenepoel saw this as an opportunity.
Wearing his new rainbow jersey as the current World Champion, Evenepoel rode his new Specialized bike to complete the time trial in 27:55, just 16 seconds behind winner Filippo Ganna of Ineos Grenadiers. Evenepoel’s second-place finish allowed him to climb to third in the general classification.
Reflecting on his performance, Evenepoel said, “It’s a mixed feeling. I didn’t have my best day out there and after ten minutes I had a difficult moment, and I think that’s where I lost the time trial. After that, I managed to increase the speed and match Ganna’s time, while gaining seconds on the others.”
Even though he didn’t have his best day, Evenepoel was still able to extend his advantage over the other general classification contenders, placing him in a strong position for the challenging stages ahead.
The general classification in La Vuelta remains tightly contested, with the top five riders separated by just one minute. Evenepoel is currently the highest-ranked among this group, sitting only 69 seconds behind the wearer of the red jersey.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
