Following the blunt remarks made by cycling star Remco Evenepoel to his team-mate Florian Lipowitz, the German Tour de France bronze medallist has said he has put the criticism behind him. “We spoke to each other again on the bus yesterday. I think everything’s been sorted out,” the 25-year-old told ARD and Eurosport ahead of the seventh stage of the Tour de France. He said he wouldn’t read too much into it.
“All in all, it was a really tough day and we can be pleased with our performance. The mood is good,” he added. Following Tadej Pogacar’s impressive solo victory in the Pyrenees, Evenepoel finished fourth and Lipowitz sixth. During the chase behind Pogacar and the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, the Belgian had hoped for more support from the German in a group of eight riders.
Evenepoel: “I was angry”
Evenepoel had strongly criticised Lipowitz following the mountain finish in Gavarnie-Gédre. “Yes, I was angry – and rightly so. During the Tour of Catalonia, I rode at the front for him for 30 kilometres. I asked him to take the lead for one kilometre, but that wasn’t possible. That annoyed me, and it’s something we need to discuss thoroughly this evening,” Evenepoel was quoted as saying in the Belgian media.
He struck a much more conciliatory tone on Friday. “Everyone has their own strengths, and you want to make the most of them,” said the Olympic champion. “Everything has been said. The past is the past. We must now look ahead.”
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