Oh to be a fly on the wall in the peloton when Tadej Pogacar launched his long-range attack at Amstel Gold last Sunday. With more than 40km left to race the rainbow jersey took flight, quickly established a gap, and didn’t look back. The TV viewing figures might tell a similar story, with those bored of the world champion’s dominance switching off when he disappeared up the road. The equivalent of leaving a football match with your team 3-0 down at half-time.
Except Pogacar winning wasn’t a foregone conclusion. Those leaving at half-time, and those accepting their fate in the peloton, reckoned without one man: Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian has been absent since December, when he sustained a litany of fractures and injuries in a nasty crash, doored by a postal van while out training. He still has nerve damage in his shoulder from the accident.
