Giro d'Italia 2023: 'They've got to learn' - Why Remco Evenepoel needs better support from Soudal-Quick Step

09.05.2023 - 18:13 eurosport.com

Soudal-Quick Step «have got to learn a lot from what happened» during Stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia if they are to give Remco Evenepoel the support he needs, according to the Eurosport experts.

Evenepoel was in possession of the maglia rosa at the start of the 175 km route from Venosa to Lago Laceno, but ended up 28 seconds down on new leader Andreas Leknessund after his team «made some mistakes» in supporting him.

Ad Adam Blythe, Robbie McEwen and Dan Lloyd assessed what happened after the day's racing and suggested how things should now play out — both for Evenepoel and for the rival teams.

Giro d'ItaliaHow to watch Stage 5 of Giro d'Italia as race moves to SalernoAN HOUR AGO «I think a lot of mistakes were made by that team, right from the get-go,» Blythe said on The Breakaway post-stage show. «You had a lot of riders committing full gas to bring a group of 14 riders back at one point.

cycling mountaineering Giro Dan Lloyd Robbie Macewen

After a barnstorming ITT that saw Primoz Roglic take pink, the Giro d’Italia concludes on the streets of Rome on Sunday. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) entered the ITT with an advantage of 26 seconds on Roglic (Jumbo Visma), but the Welshman had no answers to the power of the Slovenian.

Giro d'Italia 2023 Stage 20: How to watch, TV and live stream, profile as Geraint Thomas bids to hold off Primoz Roglic

On a day Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) won the queen stage in the Dolomites, Primoz Roglic’s last-ditch attack on the iconic climb of Tre Cima di Lavaredo saw him claw back three seconds on race leader Geraint Thomas to set up a thrilling showdown on Saturday. Welsh veteran Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) will enter the decisive 18.6km uphill time trial on the fearsome Monte Lussari with an advantage of 26 seconds on Slovenia’s Roglic (Jumbo Visma) in a winner-takes-all scenario for the climax of the 106th edition of the Giro.

Giro d'Italia 2023 Stage 19: How to watch, TV and live stream, profile as Geraint Thomas bids to hold off Primoz Roglic

A doozy in the Dolomites. Roughly 5400m of elevation and three peaks above 2000m promise to sap any remaining strength from our brave bunch.

Giro d'Italia 2023: 'I have to disagree' - Eurosport stars clash on Primoz Roglic's chances of winning GC

There may be four stages remaining at the Giro d’Italia, including three big opportunities to gain time, but Jens Voigt has already written off Primoz Roglic’s hopes of winning the race. The Jumbo-Visma star started Thursday’s Stage 18 third in the general classification, 29 seconds behind leader Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers). Ad Roglic was briefly favourite to win a maiden Giro after Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) withdrew due to Covid before Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) crashed out, but he wobbled in the mountains on Stage 16 as Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) and Thomas put time into him.

Giro d'Italia 2023: 'Arrogance came over him' - Reaction to 'daft' riding from Thibaut Pinot on Stage 13

The Breakaway team have given their reactions to the hugely entertaining, if ultimately unsuccessful, attacks from Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) after he lost out to Einer Rubio (Movistar Team) on Stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia on Friday. Pinot repeatedly launched swashbuckling attacks on the very dramatic, at times chaotic and weather-affected route which had to be shortened earlier in the day. But it was Rubio whose composure shone through in a thrilling finish as he took an unlikely win.

Remco Evenepoel withdrawal from Giro d’Italia 2023 due to Covid 'a huge blow' – Dan Lloyd

Remco Evenepoel’s withdrawal from the Giro d’Italia may be a “huge blow” for the rider and the race but given the unknowns around Covid it was a smart move, says Eurosport expert Dan Lloyd. Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) tested positive for Covid on Sunday, just hours after taking the maglia rosa after winning the Stage 9 individual time trial.