Evenepoel: 'I am getting better'

Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel celebrated a significant victory, winning the individual time trial stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday and marking his second consecutive stage win. The world and Olympic champion in the discipline expressed his pride and happiness with his performance.

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I am proud and happy with the performance I gave in this time trial.

"I am proud and happy with the performance I gave in this time trial," Evenepoel stated. This win follows his victory on the stage ending at Plateau de Solaison the previous Sunday. "It's incredible to achieve two victories in a row," he added.

Evenepoel acknowledged that his form is improving as the race heads into its final week. "At the beginning of the Tour I felt good but not incredible, but I am getting better, every day I feel better and I am arriving in impressive form," he commented. He is now firmly in second place overall, trailing leader Tadej Pogacar by 4 minutes and 32 seconds, and ahead of third-placed Isaac del Toro by 2 minutes and 19 seconds.

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It's incredible to achieve two victories in a row.

The Belgian rider also expressed regret over the withdrawal of his German teammate Florian Lipowitz, who crashed during a descent. "I will miss him in the last week, now I have to carry the team on my shoulders," Evenepoel said, highlighting his increased responsibility.

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At the beginning of the Tour I felt good but not incredible, but I am getting better, every day I feel better and I am arriving in impressive form.

Despite the challenges, Evenepoel feels strong and confident about his current condition. "I feel very good, in the first kilometers I gave my maximum and I thought I might pay for it on the descent, but I felt strong. I can only be happy with what I have done," he concluded.

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I will miss him in the last week, now I have to carry the team on my shoulders.