Evenepoel abandons race as Arensman wins stage 14

With Thymen Arensman claiming his first stage victory, Remco Evenepoel was forced to resign from this year’s Tour de France.

As the reigning champion finished second on a grueling mountain stage, Vingegaard came in third, Tadej Pogacar slightly extending his overall lead over Jonas Vingegaard.

Evenepoel, who finished third overall in the Pyrenees before the third punishing day, is now eliminated from the race.

The double Olympic champion had to leave midway through the Col du Tourmalet’s impressive ascent after failing on the first of four climbs on the 182.6km stage from Pau.

The Soudal Quick-Step rider claimed, “I didn’t have the best preparation coming into the Tour.” However, I made every effort to remain in the best shape possible.

Unfortunately, I simply wasn’t at 100%, which is required for the Tour de France to compete for the overall classification.

German debutant Florian Lipowitz, 24, placed fifth on the day and made it to the top five of the GC, while British rider Oscar Onley, 22, improved to fourth overall, losing only one place to Lipowitz.

Arensman remarked, “I can’t really believe it.” I only wanted to experience everything during my first Tour.

The first week was a really patient week because it was so hectic, so I had to wait until the mountains, and then, on my first occasion, I placed second on stage 10 [Le Mont-Dore].

Evenepoel won the white jersey for best young rider in his Tour debut last year, placing him third, and earning another podium finish.

However, the 25-year-old had struggled over the previous two days, losing more than six minutes to Pogacar on just two stages, and he was soon in trouble on the first climb of the day.

He said, “I’ve been feeling down for three days, and today I could feel empty, and then the legs just weren’t there.” It’s unfortunate that I had to retire, but it won’t alter my relationship to the race.

Tom Steels, the sports director for Soudal Quick-Step, thinks Evenepoel should have called the race’s cancellation.

Steels expressed his disappointment with having to leave the Tour.

” He was world champion on the road (in 2022), world champion in time trial (2023 and 2024).

As the crowds poured down the Col de Peyresourde on the third day’s climb, TV footage showed an Ineos team car struck and fatally shot a spectator.

For comment, the team has received an email.

Lenny Martinez, who had lead the opening two climbs, was caught by Arensman, his Ineos team-mate Carlos Rodriguez, and Tobias Johannessen just before the penultimate climb.

Arensman managed to stay clear on the 12.4km climb to the finish line while extending his lead over the yellow jersey group by more than three minutes heading into the final 20 kilometers.

Arensman claimed that it was done the same way as I did. “Carlos was a member of that]lead] group and was extremely strong. I think I just had amazing legs, but he did a really good job for me.

I felt like I had to move because I had a three and a half minute gap on the GC group.

“I can’t believe I intimidated them,” she said. On the second half of the final climb, I realized I was really fading, but I believe I received a few more watts from the audience.