The Belgian, who is extremely powerful, won the timed race between Nuits-Saint-Georges and Gevrey-Chambertin on Friday. He took back a few seconds on the yellow jersey.
Overpowering. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step), announced as the big favorite, won the time trial of the 7th stage of the Tour de France on Friday, between Nuits-Saint-Georges and Gevrey-Chambertin (25.3 km). The Belgian, who opted for a 62-tooth chainring, took the lead at each intermediate stage. Although he lost time on the downhill section – one of his weak points – the world champion of the time trial took advantage of the last kilometers to gain a few seconds on his opponents; and this, despite a small derailleur problem. The leader of the Soudal-Quick Step finally beat the yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) by 12 seconds and Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) by 34 seconds. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), winner of the 2023 Grande Boucle and author of an exceptional time trial between Passy Combloux last year, concedes 37 seconds; an honorable performance for the Dane, who has not raced since last April and his (serious) fall on the Tour of the Basque Country.I’m super happy, I was having a good day. I enjoyed every meter of this time trial.” said the winner of the day.
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Remco Evenepoel’s rap by Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard’s portrait
In the general classification, Tadej Pogacar keeps his yellow jersey. But Remco Evenepoel has made up time; the Belgian is now only 33 seconds behind the double winner of the Tour de France. Jonas Vingegaard, for his part, is losing more time on his great rival. He is now 1 minute and 15 seconds behind the Slovenian. Primoz Roglic took advantage of the 25.3 kilometers to move up to 4th place, occupied before this 7th stage by the young Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates). No changes are to be reported in the other classifications.
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Before the favourites left, it was Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny, 5th in the stage) who held the leader’s seat for a long time, just ahead of the astonishing Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels, 6th in the stage), who had already distinguished himself on this Tour de France by winning, in style, the 2nd stage in the streets of Bologna. The French time trial champion Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), who was hoping to finish in the top ten, could do no better than a (disappointing) 22nd place.
The stage ranking:
1. Remco Evenepoel (BEL) Soudal – Quick-Step 28:52
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates +12
3. Primož Roglic (SLO) Red Bull – BORA – +34 hansgrohe
4. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Team Visma – Lease a Bike +37
5. Victor Campenaerts (BEL) Lotto – Dstny +52
6. Kevin Vauquelin (FRA) Arkéa – B&B Hotels
7. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Team Visma – Lease a Bike +54
8. João Almeida (POR) UAE Team Emirates +57
9. Ben Healy (IRL) EF Education – EasyPost +59
10. Stefan Küng (SUI) Groupama – FDJ +1:00
The general classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 27:16:23
2. Remco Evenepoel (BEL) Soudal – Quick-Step +33
3. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Team Visma – Lease a Bike +1:15
4. Primož Roglic (SLO) Red Bull – BORA – +1:36 hansgrohe
5. Juan Ayuso (ESP) UAE Team Emirates +2:16
6. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE Team Emirates +2:17
7. Carlos Rodriguez (ESP) INEOS Grenadiers +2:31
8. Mikel Landa (ESP) Soudal – Quick-Step +3:35
9. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Team Visma – Lease a Bike +4:03
10. Aleksandr Vlasov () Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe +4:36
