Deceuninck-QuickStep team boss Patrick Lefebvre headed to the Volta ao Algarve on Thursday evening, hours after one of his star riders, Remco Evenpoel, took the stage win and race lead in the Alto da Foia He was.

The Belgian held court outside the team bus at the start of stage 3 in Faro on Friday, speaking to the assembled press, including Cycling News, about Evenpoel's performance and the near future.

Lefebvre, who celebrated his victory on the plane to Portugal, said his young charge was not yet in great shape, contrasting his performance with other big names in the race, including Vincenzo Nibali (8th yesterday) and Geraint Thomas (20th).

"He's definitely too early and out of shape. Even the big names won in February and are staying in shape in the Grand Tours." Thomas and Nibali aren't in top condition yet, but seeing on Twitter that they did 250km training rides in December and January, what good does that do ......

"My flight was delayed by 50 minutes, but I've never been so happy about a delay. I was thrilled when I saw his attack. It was a long climb and everyone was on the rivet when Lopez attacked.

Evenpoel, who had a string of dominating performances throughout 2018, including a solo victory by a few minutes at the junior level, signed with the Belgian national team at just 19 years old.

Last year, he improved as the season progressed, with impressive performances at the season-opening Vuelta a San Juan, stage wins at the Baloise Belgian Tour and Adriatica Ionica race, Clasica San Sebastián, European time trial title, and World Championship time trial silver medal.

This season, he has already won in San Juan and is on the verge of debuts in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Giro d'Italia.

"I don't know where he will end up," said Lefebvre. 'We are still discovering his potential. After last year, he took another step during the winter, and at the risk of sounding pretentious, he's not in top form yet. There is still something to gain."

Lefebvre has previously stated that Evenpoel could lose weight to improve his performance. The subject came up again in Faro, where the 65-year-old noted that Evenpoel should be 2 kg lighter in the Giro.

"Lemko messaged me on WhatsApp. He needs to lose 1kg in the Volta ao Algarve and another 2kg in Liège and the Giro.

"He needs to be sharp for the Giro. He can easily lose 2 kg between now and the start in Budapest"

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Regardless of his future weight loss plans, Evenpoel is focused on the task at hand: achieving the overall win in the Volta ao Algarve. He currently leads Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), and the two are tied on time.

Between him and his third career stage race victory, he faces two major obstacles over the weekend: the hilltop finish in Alto de Marjan and the final day time trial in Lagoa. Evenpoel said he wants to take the race one day at a time.

"I want to take it one day at a time," he said. Tomorrow we will climb again. It will be different from yesterday, but it will be a tough race. We have another time trial on Tuesday, so we have to focus for three more days."

"Tomorrow will be a battle, but I have to use my legs and see what happens. But having the time trial is good for me."