Remco Evenepoel will continue at the Volta a Catalunya after escaping serious injury in a bizarre crash, offering reassurance with a simple message: “Hey guys, all good.” The Belgian, riding for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, looked set to contest the stage win in a two-up sprint with Jonas Vingegaard before hitting an unseen hole in the road.
The two riders had been away for 30 km–with Evenepoel doing most of the work. That wasn’t exactly so popular with the Olympic champion, with him later chirping the Dane on Eurosport. “The cooperation was amazing,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, thick as mayo on frites. “It was clear who wanted to ride to win and who didn’t. I don’t care much about what others’ tactics are. That’s their problem.”
Vingegaard later said that his team had their tactics and they would stick to them. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider also sat up when he saw Evenepoel had gone down, despite being solo. The multiple Grand Tour rider said he didn’t want to win that way, and was swallowed up by the bunch.
All class: Vingegaard sat up after Evenepoel’s crash, even though solo
Evenepoel said he had moved his hands in preparation for the sprint when the impact knocked his grip loose. The fall left him battered, with cuts to his hip and back and a heavily bruised elbow. “I feel pain everywhere,” he said afterward.
Despite the damage, he recovered well overnight and will take the start of a shortened Stage 4. A route change, which removes the summit finish at Vallter 2000 due to strong winds, may offer some relief as he gauges his condition back in the race. It also means that Vingegaard can’t go nuclear on the final climb, so Visma may have to adjust its tactics. Right now, stage winner Dorian Godon (INEOS Grenadiers) leads the GC, with Evenepoel in second. Vingegaard sits fourth overall.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…