Remco Evenepoel exclusive: Primoz Roglic looks ‘nervous’, so far I am the strongest at Giro d’Italia 2023

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) was in bullish mood following Stage 6 of the Giro d’Italia, telling Eurosport France that he felt main general classification rival Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) looked “nervous”. After Stage 6 was won by Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), the 23-year-old Soudal-Quickstep rider sits second on the general classification, some 28 seconds off Norway’s Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM). However, he holds a 44-second lead over Roglic.

Ad Friday will see the first mountaintop finish of the 2023 Giro d’Italia — the 218km Stage 7 from Capua to the Gran Sasso d’Italia. It should in theory offer Roglic an opportunity to apply pressure to Evenepoel, but the Belgian was in confident mood when speaking to Eurosport after Stage 6. Giro d'ItaliaHow to watch Stage 7 of Giro d'Italia as Evenepoel still trails LeknessundAN HOUR AGO “I have the impression that Roglic is nervous, he knows that he is 44 seconds behind,” Evenepoel told Eurosport France show Rois de la Pédale.

“They are nervous in the peloton, they push a lot, that's the Jumbo style. “We will see tomorrow if he will try to catch up. After the time trial and the stage of the day before yesterday, I think that so far I am the strongest.

“For the moment it is an ideal scenario for us. In Catalonia I was behind, now I am in front. For us there is no stress, more for them I think.” Disaster for breakaway as Pedersen snatches Stage 6 win, Evenepoel fights on Crashes put Evenepoel’s 'great champion' dream at risk – Vaughters Evenepoel suffered two crashes on Stage 5 – first when a dog ran into the road and then again just 2.5km from the finish.