Evenepoel wins the Carlet-Alginet time trial against all odds
Remco Evenepoel won the highly anticipated 17-kilometer time trial between Carlet and Alginet. However, the times did not count towards the general classification due to conditions that did not allow for the normal running of this type of event. The gusty and highly inconsistent wind forced a decision to be made in a meeting between race directors, the UCI representative, the teams, and the cyclists. Furthermore, for safety reasons, it was also decided that the cyclists would use conventional bicycles instead of time trial bikes.
However, the vast majority of riders battled for time, especially the specialists who don’t shine in other types of stages. Evenepoel was one of them, clocking a time of 20 minutes and 12 seconds. The Rainbow Jersey wearer, living up to his World Champion title, couldn’t let his world debut as number one go by without winning the race. The Belgian rider from Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe believes that “the organization deserved respect, and we prepared for the race like all time trials, with proper nutrition and warm-up. I would have liked to have enjoyed different conditions to compete, but the result is satisfactory.”
Evenepoel’s victory is all the more impressive, as the 17 km course wasn’t completely flat, and some riders took more risks on the descent.
The Race is more open than ever
NSN rider Biniam Girmay retains the Yellow Jersey due to the stage conditions, where times don’t count towards the general classification. Thus, Rempco Evenpoel’s 9-second advantage over the leader remains intact. This circumstance disproves all theories that the Belgian champion would emerge victorious after this stage. The Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana GP Banc Sabadell is now more open than ever. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that the winner’s teammate is Alexandr Vlasov, Remco’s current teammate and the man who beat him in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in 2022.
Tomorrow, the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana GP Banc Sabadell heads to Orihuela for a 158 km stage finishing in Sant Vicente del Raspeig. The climbs of Tibi and Xixona will be decisive, although a sprint finish is expected to wear down the leader. Every second gained, including bonus seconds, will be crucial.
