Remco Evenepoel plans to challenge 'idol' Primoz Roglic at 2023 Volta a Catalunya final stage

Remco Evenepoel plans to take the fight to Primoz Roglic in the last stage of the Volta a Catalunya after a hard-fought race to Molins de Rei on Saturday. Evenepoel (Soudal–Quick-Step) trails Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) by 10 seconds, and speaking after the day's racing he told Eurosport that the plan for the stage was to attack on the climb 27 kilometres from the finish line. Ad «It was the plan this morning,» Evenepoel said.

«We had a plan to go from the base of the climb full gas but in the end, another team did it to control for the sprint, so I decided to wait for the last kilometre and do an attack like I did in Liège, just over the top of the climb and the descent full gas.» Giro d'ItaliaExclusive: Contador tips Evenepoel for 'great season', praises decision to ride Giro20/03/2023 AT 22:01 Evenepoel was visibly frustrated during the stage and suggested that Roglic was not permitted by Jumbo-Visma to race for the win, something that might have earned one of the pair the victory. «In the end, I had the wrong guy with me,» the 23-year-old Belgian explained. «I mean he's the strongest of the race so probably if he works with me, we go to the finish line together because we had 30 seconds arriving in the valley.

But I think his team decided to not ride and save the jersey, which I completely understand. »But it's just a pity because it would've been nice to try and go for the stage win. I even told him that I just wanted to try and go for the stage, even if I would be second I'd be happy.