“Evenepoel hit his chest several times when he crossed the finish line,” writes the Spanish sports newspaper AS. “It was a gesture of authority, justice. And to show that he is number one. A ‘here I am’ to the rivals. And especially against the powerful Jumbo-Visma, which still bears the label of favourite. Evenepoel is the defending champion and was the first to strike in a direct duel with his competitors. It was the best message he could send.” Of course, attention is also paid to the fall after the finish. “The Vuelta and Evenepoel: that relationship didn’t start too well this year. Last weekend there was criticism about the visibility and the course. And then that fall, Monday. Fortunately, with the red jersey, reconciliation has also started.”
“An impressive Evenepoel, in blood red,” writes The Gazzetta dello Sport, the pink sports newspaper from Italy. Blood red: a reference to the leader’s jersey he already wears – although they also wonder if and when Remco will hand it over again. But also a reference to that incident after the finish, which left him with a bloodied face. “That fall was spectacular. Sensational, even.” The Italian sports newspaper also listened to Vincenzo Nibali, the Vuelta winner in 2010 and fifteen-time stage winner in a grand tour. She asked whether Evenepoel should have expressed such open criticism in recent days. Nibali: “Remco is still very young. He will most likely change his way of communicating in the future.”
Also the Spanish sports newspaper Sports world saw Evenepoel deal with the yellow brigade: “He managed to beat the all-powerful Jumbo-Visma. The sun was shining and Remco did not miss the opportunity to immediately seize that first opportunity. Only 400 meters from the line Evenepoel showed itself. He said before the start that the goal was to waste as little time as possible. But the leader of Soudal Quick-Step is a real winner. And when he noticed that the stage victory was at stake, he did not hesitate. He looked to the left. Stood up on his bike and accelerated. No one could follow him anymore. Before Vingegaard, Ayuso, Roglic, Soler.”
“The Belgian phenomenon has been angry with the world since the start of the Vuelta, but that did not stop him from focusing on his work,” writes the Spanish newspaper The country. “In the first mountain stage on Andorran territory, he was the best of the best, riding together in the final kilometers at a pace that did not deter any favorite, except Geraint Thomas. He was taken in tow by Egan Bernal, who is recovering step by step (from a heavy fall, ed.) and seemed to have the strength to help his leader.”
“The first three days of this Vuelta belong to Remco Evenepoel,” writes the Dutch AD. There’s a double reason for that. “First, as patron of the peloton, he rebelled against the course management. After his victory in the first mountain stage in Andorra, he is also the real leader in this Tour of Spain. His explosive sprint over Arinsal in Andorra was too powerful for all the other favourites. He handed out a small tap to the competition. Mentally too. Because his explosiveness was still his weak point in another phase of his career, now the Belgian also has a final shot that many other top players cannot match.
But our Dutch colleagues are also talking about the natural leader in Evenepoel. “We have seen almost all of his guises so soon after the start of the last Grand Tour of the year. On Saturday he still gushed into the cameras that it was a shame that he and his teammates had to ride a team time trial in the pouring rain and falling darkness. His caregiver tried in vain to calm him down. It is the Belgian cyclist in every way. Direct, honest, uncompromising. Like a patron in the peloton who will not be lectured by anyone. And even after the stage he won, Evenepoel had good reason to complain. (…) But at the same time he didn’t let his mood get ruined, after he had already taken his first stage on day three and was allowed to put on the red leader’s jersey. Ready for a big battle against the Jumbo block.”
