'The ideal situation' - Remco Evenepoel loses Giro d’Italia lead but remains focal point

Remco Evenepoel on stage 4 at the Giro d'Italia
Remco Evenepoel on stage 4 at the Giro d'Italia (Image credit: Getty Images)

Two minutes had already ticked by on the clock when Remco Evenepoel crossed the line at Lago Laceno on stage 4 of the Giro d’Italia. As planned, he had rid himself of both the maglia rosa and its associated post-stage duties, but even without those burdens, the world champion was never going to be able to drift anonymously back into civilian life.

It probably didn’t help that the only camouflage on hand was the long-sleeve rainbow jersey handed to him by a soigneur. Evenepoel was still in the process of covering his maglia rosa with it when a string of television cameras knotted tightly around him. “No, I’ve been giving interviews to you every day,” he said, shaking his head.

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.