Greig Leach

In these times of 'burn it to the ground' adversarial politics, it is great to see to fierce competitors show respect for each other just prior to racing against each other. On his way to the start house, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) fist-bumps Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). Pogacar is forty-five seconds ahead of Evenepoel in the GC, but this is Evenepoel's specialty. He is the current world champion in the individual time trial but is wearing the Maillot Blanc of best young rider rather than his rainbow bands. Pogacar had said before the start of the stage, that it would be the young man that will win today and not himself. We shall see if he was clairvoyant or just lowering the press's expectations for the day.