Remco Evenepoel has said hard road races do not need gravel sections to make them more interesting or harder; making his remarks after faltering on the final climb of stage 3 at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
The young Belgian rider had looked in sublime form on stage 1 on Wednesday. He broke away solo and took a very convincing win. However, while he seemed set to win the race outright, he lost time yesterday.
The stage took the riders 155km from Alicante to Antenas del Maigmó, up a very steep 6km climb at the finish, most of which was on very chunky gravel. Once the leaders moved onto the climb, sweeping up the last of the breakaway survives, the peloton split to pieces.
And when the riders moved onto the gravel section, Evenepoel was immediately in trouble. He lost considerable ground before regrouping and getting back into the select group of about 10.
However, just as he had looked outside his comfort zone – and unable to cope with that discomfort – on the gravel at the Giro last year, Evenepoel once again appeared very unsettled and far from his dominant self on the gravel.
Vlasov (Bora-hansgrohe) had no such problems; pressing on the pedals hard several times. His effort with just over 2km to go and then with about 1,500m remaining saw him ride all the other favourites off his wheel.
“I think that the best guy won today,”
Evenepoel said. “If you can ride away from everyone then you’re the best and
Aleksandr really deserved this victory. He’s shown his good level.
“I felt good today but on the gravel section the legs were getting full of lactate. I think the race for me was maybe 1km too long. Second in such a hard race is still very good for the first race of the season. I always need some races in order to get into good shape.”
He then turned his remarks to the gravel, saying choosing such finishes was not needed in road races that were already hard enough. He noted the race organisers had said the climb had been worked on to improve the surface, yet all the riders could see were stones.
“It’s always special to have these
gravel sections, but it was a bit on the limit. There were quite some rocks. I
think it was getting close to mountain biking. On such a hard climb we
don’t need that. There is one race in the year that is known for its gravel –
Strade Bianche. But on a finish like this it makes it even harder.
“It would have been the same if
we’d gone up a normal road. I understand if they want to try something new but
I think the race didn’t need this gravel section to be harder.
“But then when they send you on
small roads and they say all the loose stones are gone and you see only loose
stones, it’s a pity. The race was so hard it didn’t need this gravel sector.
“Sometimes within the peloton there’s
a frustration when we go on such small roads that are… I won’t say dangerous. But
you cannot win something with it; you can lose it. You can have a flat tyre so
it’s always a risk. But that’s not why I lost time today – Aleksandr was strongest.”
After Vlasove attacked yesterday, Evenepoel was on the front of the chasing group for a short period. However, he was soon dropped by most of it and it was Ineos Grenadiers rider Carlos Rodriguez who proved best of the chasers.
Having recently turned 21 years, his ride at Tour de l’Avenir last year – when he almost won the race with a solo breakaway on the last stage – coupled with his climbing yesterday suggest his progression is going into overdrive.
He finished in 2nd place some 12 seconds down on Vlasov, with Evenepoel labouring his way to 8th at 41 seconds. With just two stages, suited to the sprinters, remaining Vlasov leads by 32 seconds from Evenepoel, with Rodriguez 3rd at 36 seconds.
