The Belgian has a strong shot of making it onto the overall podium in two days’ time.
It may have been a transition stage, but the journey from Sisteron to La Colle-sur-Loup ended up altering the overall standings, including changing the wearer of the yellow jersey. After a fast start, things calmed down a bit once a breakaway took shape, but the peloton had one thing in mind, and that was to fight for the spoils Friday afternoon.
As expected, the action began on the double-digit gradients of Côte de La Colle-sur-Loup where the race was back together, and Remco Evenepoel remained attentive, responding to an attack of Primoz Roglic (Bora-hansgrohe). The Belgian Champion tried to keep things under control, taking some long pulls when the other GC men hesitated, but a small three-man group eventually managed to get away on the descent.
The ITT World Champion tried his best to reduce the gap, but despite leaving everything out there, the trio stayed away and Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) got the victory. Evenepoel sprinted to fourth some 50-odd seconds later, leading home the favourites’ group – a result that helped him retain his fifth place on the general classification ahead of the race’s only summit finish, Madone d’Utelle.
“The legs were there, but I probably made a tactical mistake by not going after the three when they attacked. All the others began looking at me instead of working together, but it is as it is. The gap began growing on the flat section, and it’s a pity that the guys up the road could gain so much time on us. I felt good the entire day, despite being a fast stage from the beginning even with the headwind, and I hope to have the same shape in the next two days, and even though I know it won’t be easy, I will continue fighting”, Remco explained after the stage.
Photo credit: ©Alex Broadway / Getty Images
