“I passed Remco too early and the last 50 meters felt endless,” Godon noted, adding that he nearly relinquished his position on the line. “It was really close.”
Third on the stage, just two days after a strong performance at Milan-Sanremo (2nd place), Tom Pidcock surprised observers by stating he delivered “probably the best sprint of his life.” Perhaps in terms of wattage, but in reality, the Brit launched his sprint a bit too early into a headwind and was overtaken without much difficulty by Evenepoel and the French champion.
Six Seconds of Bonus
Upon returning to his hotel directly by bike after the finish, Remco Evenepoel was all smiles. A clear sign that the slight frustration he displayed on the finish line had already dissipated, replaced by satisfaction at gaining six seconds of bonus time – a feat that riders like Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida couldn’t achieve despite their efforts and strong positioning in the final 20 tortuous and technical kilometers of a stage where the wind, shifting between tailwind and headwind, played a significant role without causing a split in the peloton. This stage of the Volta a Catalunya is crucial for setting the tone for the rest of the race.
In the long sprint finish where even a moment’s inattention could have been costly, Evenepoel appeared to be in complete control of the elements and felt reassured. “The sensations were very good, both uphill and downhill, as was my acceleration. The first signs are therefore positive. It’s a good start and I think the next two stages should finish in a slightly more serene manner. Then I’m going to go all-out for four days,” he concluded, hoping to avoid another second-place finish.
