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17-Jun-2023: Remco Evenepoel paid tribute to Gino Mäder at the end of stage seven, pointing his finger to the sky as he crossed the line in Weinfelden. It was a touching moment at the end of a sombre and emotionally wearing day in the saddle, which the peloton raced as one until with 25 kilometers to go, when the GC times were taken.
On the last climb, the Ottenberg, some squads upped the pace and soon a small group took off, among those there being also Soudal Quick-Step’s World Champion, who rode away with 17 kilometers to go and opened a solid gap over the others. Evenepoel kept pushing in the closing part of the stage, increasing his advantage, and arrived alone at the finish, where he took his 44th pro victory.
“Friday evening was a very difficult one for all of us, we didn’t know what we were going to do and how the race would continue. In the end, after talking between us, we decided to have a neutralized stage today until 25 kilometers to go, and from there on, whoever wanted to race was free to do that without any time gaps in the general classification.”
“In my opinion, this was the best way to honour Gino and who he was, to pay a tribute to him and show my respect to his family in these difficult moments. This win and this trophy are for them. It doesn’t change anything, but I want them to know that all of us in the peloton, in our small world, are thinking of them”, said after the stage Remco, who remains fourth overall going into the individual time trial.
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- Remco-Evenepoel-2---_Dario-Belingheri---Getty-Images.jpg - Remco Evenepoel 2 / All pictures attached can be used for editorial and non commercial usages only and are copyright protected - ©Soudal Quick-Step - ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images - Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
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