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Remco Evenepoel claimed his first victory at the Tour de France in stage seven’s individual time-trial as Tadej Pogacar held on to the leader’s yellow jersey.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Belgian, who is the current world time trial champion, underlined his credentials as one of the favourites in the general classification, with a superb run on 25.3km course to finish 12 seconds ahead of Slovenia’s Pogacar.<\/p>\n
Evenepoel, 24, who thought he had suffered a puncture on the approach towards the finish in Gevrey-Chambertin, is now just 33 seconds behind Pogacar overall.<\/p>\n
Another Slovenian, Primoz Roglic was third 34 seconds down, while defending champion Jonas Vingegaard conceded 37 seconds in fourth. <\/p>\n
The Dane now trails by one minute and 15 seconds in the GC after also losing time on stage four.<\/p>\n
Simon Yates was the top-placed British rider in the time-trial, finishing 1:33 behind Evenepoel.<\/p>\n
The stage win gives Evenepoel, who is wearing the white jersey as the best young rider in the race so far, stage victories in all three Grand Tours.<\/p>\n
“It’s crazy. I enjoyed every metre of this time trial and coming out with the win was simply amazing,” said the Soudal-Quick Step rider.<\/p>\n
“We wanted a stage win, and that is done. It’s a perfect day for me and my team. Mission accomplished. As for the rest of the Tour de France, I believe Tadej is going to be unreachable. But this is cycling, you never know what can happen. <\/p>\n
“I think the further into the race we go, the better I will feel, so I’ll focus more on the podium because I feel I have the legs for it.”<\/p>\n
Before Friday’s stage Pogacar had forecast that Evenepoel would be the man to beat in a discipline he excels in. <\/p>\n
However, the two-time winner produced a determined ride of his own to extend his advantage over Roglic and Vingegaard, who will now see the mountain stages as their best opportunity to regain ground.<\/p>\n
“I can be satisfied,” Pogacar said. <\/p>\n
“I would have loved to have taken a stage win today but against Remco it’s a bit tough. But I gained time on Primoz [Roglic] and Jonas [Vingegaard] and the other guys so I can be really happy.”<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the Tour will take a lumpy 183.4km route from Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n