Evenepoel clashes with co-leader Lipowitz after Tour de France mountain stage: 'I was rightfully angry'
Remco Evenepoel publicly criticised his Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe co-leader Florian Lipowitz after stage 6 of the Tour de France, accusing the German of refusing a lead-out in the final sprint. The Belgian said he was 'rightfully angry' and that the pair would discuss the incident.
Stage 6: first mountain test
The Tour de France's first Pyrenean stage finished at Gavarnie-Gèdre. On the Col de Tourmalet, Tadej Pogačar attacked and Jonas Vingegaard followed, while Remco Evenepoel lost around 20 seconds to his co-leader Florian Lipowitz. Evenepoel caught the German on the descent, and an eight-rider chase group formed behind Vingegaard. The group narrowed the gap to under a minute but could not catch the Dane, finishing 19 seconds back. Pogačar won the stage by nearly three minutes.
Evenepoel's frustration
After the finish, Evenepoel was visibly angry. He told Belgian broadcaster Sporza that he had asked Lipowitz for a lead-out in the final kilometre and was refused. "I was rightfully angry," he said. "In the Tour of Catalonia I rode 30 kilometres on the front for him. I asked for one kilometre of work and it didn't happen. That frustrated me, and we'll have to discuss it tonight." Evenepoel also criticised Lidl-Trek riders Juan Ayuso and Mattias Skjelmose for not cooperating in the chase, saying they had nothing to lose.
I was rightfully angry. In the Tour of Catalonia I rode 30 kilometres on the front for him. I asked for one kilometre of work and it didn't happen. That frustrated me, and we'll have to discuss it tonight.
Team and Lipowitz respond
Florian Lipowitz downplayed the incident, saying the cooperation with Evenepoel had worked well and that he felt "ganz happy". He explained he did not have the legs to follow Pogačar or Vingegaard. Red Bull chief of sport Zak Dempster also brushed off the tension, calling it a good day and insisting Lipowitz would have done more if he could.
I believe we can be optimistic.
Classification impact
Evenepoel's fourth place, combined with missing bonus seconds, leaves him fourth overall at 3 minutes 30 seconds behind Pogačar. Lipowitz sits seventh, another 30 seconds back. The incident raises questions about the team's dual-leadership strategy, which team boss Ralph Denk had defended before the Tour.
- Evenepoel loses 20 seconds to Lipowitz; Pogačar and Vingegaard attack.
- Evenepoel catches Lipowitz and Paul Seixas, forming an 8-rider chase group.
- Group pursues Vingegaard, gap narrows to under a minute.
- Evenepoel asks Lipowitz for a lead-out; Lipowitz does not comply.
- Evenepoel finishes 4th, 19 seconds behind Vingegaard, beaten by Isaac del Toro.
