Lemko Evenpoel held his tongue and held his anger after the end of Tirreno-Adriatico stage 5.

The talented young Belgian timed his attack perfectly on one of the stage's many steep climbs, and only race leader Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) were able to follow the attack.

They were chasing Warren Barguil (Arkea Samsic) and the rest of the breakaway group when they suddenly went straight downhill instead of turning right and had to brake. Pogachar and Vingegård quickly turned around and followed the back of the group that had caught up with and overtaken them.

However, Evenpole led Pogachar and Vingegaard in the wrong direction. He also caught up with the pack with 4km to go on the narrow streets of Fermo.

Evenepoel did not stop to talk after crossing the finish, but quickly turned tail and headed down the hill and into the quiet of the team bus. After a few moments, he shared his thoughts.

"Only Pogachar and Vingegaard joined us, and we had a nice gap with full throttle on the downhill, but then there was almost nothing and no one to tell us we should go right. So instead I kept going straight and that's where the promising move ended," he said, hardly admitting responsibility for the mistake or that riders are responsible for knowing the race route.

There were pink arrows indicating the route, two race marshals and tape across the road, but the three were clearly too fast and too focused on the race to see them.

"I felt good today, and the great team around me worked hard to protect me," explained Evenpoel.

"Then when the UAE became the pace makers, I picked up speed and knew it was time to attack.

"Luckily I had enough legs to make up the gap and with the help of Davide Ballerini I was able to get back to the pack.

Evenepoel accepts Pogachar's advantage in the Tirreno-Adriatico, but is riding to defend second place overall. He is only nine seconds behind the Tour de France winner, but knows that the double climb of Monte Carpeña will decide everything.

Evenpoel must also keep an eye on Vingegaard, who, despite a poor opening time trial, is currently fourth overall by 45 seconds. Talented young Dutch rider Timen Arensmann (Team DSM) is in third place overall with 42 seconds and could be a threat for a podium finish.