Remco Evenepoel exclusive: Primoz Roglic looks ‘nervous’, so far I am the strongest at Giro d’Italia 2023

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) was in bullish mood following Stage 6 of the Giro d’Italia, telling Eurosport France that he felt main general classification rival Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) looked “nervous”.

“I have the impression that Roglic is nervous, he knows that he is 44 seconds behind,” Evenepoel told Eurosport France show Rois de la Pédale. “They are nervous in the peloton, they push a lot, that’s the Jumbo style.

“We will see tomorrow if he will try to catch up. After the time trial and the stage of the day before yesterday, I think that so far I am the strongest.

“For the moment it is an ideal scenario for us. In Catalonia I was behind, now I am in front. For us there is no stress, more for them I think.”

Soudal Quick-Step doctor Toon Cruyt had said that Evenepoel was in a “lot of pain” following the two crashes on the rain-soaked stage.

But Evenepoel showed no ill-effects in a comfortable day in the saddle on Thursday, and he said that Stage 6 had offered an opportunity to recover after the tumultuous ride the previous day.

“[Today was] a good day for turning legs and testing the muscles that have been affected,” he said. “A good day of recovery for us.

“Sprint stages are always dangerous. For us the most important thing is to finish the stages without problems. Until today everything went well despite these two crashes but that’s life, these things happen.”

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