'Evenepoel's success depends on how he handles it mentally' says Peter Sagan
The three-time world champion says he has been impressed with the Belgian, but adds he's need to handle the mental pressure of turning pro


Remco Evenepoel's success depends on how he handles the mental challenges of racing as a teenager in the WorldTour, says Peter Sagan.
Deceuninck - Quick-Step signed Evenepoel at 18-years-old after a junior campaign that included winning the World Championships time trial by over a minute and escaping solo at 20km out for the road title. Now 19, Evenepoel just finished his first professional race in Argentina's Vuelta a San Juan alongside Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe).
>>> Sam Bennett: ‘Sagan leading me out is really cool but it puts me under pressure’
"For sure, he'll have a nice and interesting career. It also depends on how he manages it mentally if some successes come to him," Sagan explained before the race finished on Sunday.
"I think it's very early to speak about his future, but for sure with how he's going now... If he manages to stay good and relaxed, he's going to have a future, yeah."
Evenepoel helped team-mate Julian Alaphilippe win a stage and place second overall in the Argentine stage race.
He rode well enough that he placed ninth overall and won the young rider classification. Part of that came thanks to his time trial, blazing over the course to set the top time only to be knocked off by Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates) and then Alaphilippe.
"It depends, it also is different to win than being third in a time trial," Sagan continued. "Maybe in Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico it'll be different. But if he continues like this then he'll be better in the season."
Sagan began racing at the top level at 20-years-old and won two stages in Paris-Nice that 2010 season. Evenepoel skipped the under 23 ranks, going from the junior to the professional level directly.
He won all four stage races that he entered in 2018 at the junior level. The Belgian has already said that his long term goal is to win the Tour de France.
"For the future, we will see after he grows up. I don't know now what kind of rider he is," Sagan said.
"What happened to me, when I was 18 or 19-years-old, physically I grew up. Also maybe he will. I don't know if he is already at the final level of his maturity. Time is going to show what he can do."
Evenepoel left San Juan with the green jersey of best young rider and much experience.
"The pressure and expectation is not a problem for me because I really don't care about it," said Evenepoel.
"When you start your first week of racing without expectations and then you get a jersey and ninth in GC, I think I can be very proud of it the results."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Tour de France bikes: winning machines from the last ten years
Nine of the ten bikes came from Italian manufacturers
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan • Published
-
Copenhagen: the Tour de France's ride through history
Get set for this year's Grand Départ in Denmark and immerse yourself in the cycling city
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Van der Poel not targeting green jersey at Tour de France
Jasper Philipsen will be the main sprinter at Alpecin-Fenix
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'It's nice to be back': Peter Sagan downplays his first WorldTour win in over a year
Slovakian takes his maiden win for TotalEnergies, his first in ninth month, but his 18th Tour de Suisse stage
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish wants to continue for 'at least' two more years
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sprinter turns 37 this weekend
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Peter Sagan unlikely to ride Paris-Roubaix after illness
Former winner also missed Tour of Flanders after health problems
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Peter Sagan to skip Tour of Flanders after Classics struggles
Former Ronde winner to undergo tests before Amstel Gold Race and Paris-Roubaix
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Peter Sagan concerned with peloton's negative attitude: 'The younger generation lacks that respect'
The three-time world champion claims riders "just piss in the middle of the pack" as an example of this lack of respect
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Peter Sagan misses out on Strade Bianche after organisers don't select Team TotalEnergies
Strade Bianche organisers RCS didn't select Sagan's new team, Team TotalEnergies, to race the Italian Classic
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Fabio Jakobsen on aiming for the Tour de France, lawsuit against Groenewegen and supporting Cavendish
The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider showed he is back to being one of the fastest sprinters around at the Vuelta a España
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published