Tour de France cyclist Remco Evenepoel experiences public disgrace during the time trial event: "It was truly a dismal display of competition"
Remco Evenepoel, the reigning time trial world champion, experienced a setback during stage 13 of the 2023 Tour de France. In the mountain time trial from Loudenvielle to the Altiport 007, Evenepoel was overtaken in the closing metres by his two-minute man, Tadej Pogacar.
Evenepoel, who was initially seen as a favourite for the mountain time trial, struggled throughout the stage. He claimed to feel "nothing" when Pogacar passed him, and later stated that his performance was "bad" and "really bad."
The 645m climb from the bottom of Loudenvielle to the Altiport 007 favoured Pogacar and other strong climbers, but Evenepoel should have been in contention given his form in early time trials. However, his poor performance on the day suggests that he was not at full strength in the mountains.
Evenepoel's difficulties in high mountain stages are not a new development. During the Vuelta a España in 2023, he lost nearly 27 minutes when the race finished atop the Col du Tourmalet. His mountain time trial equipment choices have included carefully selected time trial bikes with a balance between aero and lightweight features, but these do not seem to have been a cause of his poor performance in 2023.
His physical difficulties in mountain stages may relate in part to his injury history. In 2024, he suffered a serious crash leading to a broken collarbone and scapula, requiring surgery and affecting his climbing form.
Despite his struggles, Evenepoel remains in the white jersey and is on the podium. However, he is seven minutes and 24 seconds behind Pogacar. Evenepoel has been dropped multiple times during the race, but he finished the time trial as the 12th best, behind riders like Florian Lipowitz, Oscar Onley, Kévin Vauquelin, and Felix Gall.
Evenepoel's only moment of joy came in the time trial win in Caen, but it seems his recovery from his mountain struggles will take some time. As the race progresses, it remains to be seen how Evenepoel will hold off his pursuers. It's increasingly certain that Evenepoel will be riding for Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe next season, and fans will be eager to see him return to his formidable best.
Sports-analysis has shown that Remco Evenepoel, despite his initial favoritism for the mountain time trial, struggled in the 2023 Tour de France's stage 13, and his performance was significantly lower than expected due to his poor form in high mountain stages. The sports-analysis further indicates that Evenepoel's difficulties, partly attributed to his injury history, may hinder his future performances, particularly in high-altitude stages, and it is crucial to monitor his progress in subsequent races to evaluate his recovery and potential comeback.
