Evenepoel and Lipowitz downplay friction over leadership
Remco Evenepoel is back on the dual-leader bandwagon. The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe co-captain had some spicy words Thursday for Florian Lipowitz, saying the team's other protected rider refused to pull in the last kilometer of the stage to help set up Evenepoel for bonus seconds (he ultimately finished fourth, one spot out of the bonus).
Dane Cash
But after a head-to-head conversation on the team bus and at dinner, sore feelings were smoothed over, said both riders. "“We talked to each other on the bus and the air cleared. In the end it was a tough day and we can be happy with the performance," Lipowitz said on Friday. "The mood is good and everyone is happy that we have a quieter day today."
Evenepoel also brushed aside the episode. "It was all good. The most important thing was not to lose too much time, apart from Tadej Pogačar," he told Eurosport. "It was clear that the collaboration [in the chase] was not good, otherwise we might still be able to catch [Vingegaard]. In the end, everyone did what they could."
Evenepoel also seemed more at ease with the idea that each rider would pursue his own objectives. "When the acceleration comes, we go our own pace," he said of future mountain stages. "Everything has been discussed and said in the meantime. The past is behind us, now we are going to look forward."
