After taking a wrong turn during stage 5 of Tirreno-Adriatico, Remco Evenpoel was seen fuming in anger and frustration. He was obviously angry and disappointed at himself and the organizers of the race, as he went the wrong way during the highly ambitious race event. The fact that he took the wrong turn during the last six kilometers describes a lot about his frustration.
The way Evenepoel started the race was exceptional, his attack over the steep muri climbs was perfectly-timed. Not many could chase him, with only Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) having the skills to pursue.
Fueled by adrenaline, all of them were chasing Warren Barguil from Arkea-Samsic but went straight after the descent when they had to take a right. Pogačar and Vingegaard swiftly recovered from this mistake and went back, however, it was Evenepoel who had led them for making this blunder. Evenepoel even earned himself the title, “Wrong-Way” Evenepoel, still recovered but then caught up with the group during the last four kilometers of the race.
Reporters flocked at Evenepoel after he crossed the finish line but he had nothing to say, he quietly went back to his team bus, he shared his thoughts later on.
I was joined only by Pogačar and Vingegaard, and we went full gas on the descent and had a good gap, but then there was almost nothing and no one to show us that we should go right. So instead of this, we continued to ride straight ahead and our promising move ended there.
He accepted his mistake, there were pink arrows marking the race route, but the riders were too focused on the race to pay attention to them. Evenepoel still has to accept that Pogačar is currently dominating the Tirreno-Adriatico, the way he is protecting his overall second place already speaks a lot.
Evenepoel explained after the race:
I felt good today and had a fantastic team around me, who worked hard to keep me protected.
Then when UAE took over the pace-making, the speed increased and I knew that the right moment to attack had come.
Fortunately, I had the legs to make up the gap, and also with some help of Davide Ballerini, I managed to return in the pack, but it’s a pity how things turned out at a moment when they were looking so good.
Evenepoel is currently surrounded by talented and dangerous riders, at the top of the food chain we have Pogačar, Vingegaard is also there. He also has to keep a close eye on the young new talented rider Thymen Arensman from Team DSM, they could all overwhelm him if he’s not careful enough. Stay tuned for more updates!
Also Read: Mathieu Van Der Poel Set To Make His “Grand Return” At The Coppi E Bartali
Featured Image Via YouTube/ Cycling Pro Net
