Remco Evenepoel, carrying Belgium's dreams, vows to not panic at the Vuelta a España
There are two key mountain stages between the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider and sporting immortality
![Remco Evenepoel on stage 15 of the Vuelta a España on 2022](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KQBytsrY9cNvVwpqChFoAT-415-80.jpg)
Remco Evenepoel does not particularly want to be at his rest day press conference, the second of this Vuelta a España that he has done so in the red jersey. While last week he was very much in the ascendancy, this time he is mulling over a weekend which saw his advantage drop from 2-41 to 1-34 over Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma).
While he wants to be resting, not chatting to press from across Europe - but mostly Belgium - he is not in a foul mood, joking and being polite. But he doesn't want to be here. The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider tells the assembled journalists on Zoom that "keeping the press conference as short as possible" is key to his recovery.
"Sleeping, recovering, having a really easy ride, eating well as yesterday took a lot of calories out of the body," Evenepoel says when asked to explain his Monday plans. "It’s all about refuelling. Yesterday was a burger and fries dinner with some ice cream. Today when I’m done with my obligations I’ll be in bed for the whole afternoon."
It is hard to understate Remco-mania in Belgium; the press pack at the Vuelta is dominated by those from the Low Countries, and the TV show for the Grand Tour in the country has got longer specially because one of their own is in red.
The last time Belgium won a Grand Tour, Evenepoel was 22 years away from being born. In fact, Johan De Muynck's victory at the 1978 Giro d'Italia is closer to the founding of The Beatles, to Charles de Gaulle being president of France, to Second Vatican Council than the birth of the current Vuelta leader.
This feels weird for a country that is as cycling mad as Belgium, the country that spawned Eddy Merckx, the greatest cyclist of all time. It almost goes a little under the radar due to their success in other races, but the lack of a Grand Tour winner for 44 years is a big hole in the country's palmarés.
Step forward, Remco. 15 stages into this year's Vuelta, and the 22-year-old remains in the race lead, with just six stages to go.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"It’s true that I know I’d be the first winner of a grand tour for Belgium in a long time," he says. "We have six days to go, so I don’t want to call myself that already. For the head it’s best to try and stay calm, look at the races day by day, and see what every day brings. As we could see last week, a crash happens before you even know it. We had two big crashes, and unfortunately for Julian [Alaphilippe] he had to abandon, and then for me it was ok, but had some damage to my hips and muscles.
"Never panic, even if I lose some time. Knowing this situation before the Vuelta I would have signed for it, so everything that happens now is extra. A stage win and a top five or top 10 would be a dream for me and so I would go for that now."
Well, here is the thing. Evenepoel has already won a stage, the time trial last week, imperiously in fact. He is 1-34 over Roglič in second, and there's a 5-16 gap to Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) in fifth, and 11-36 back to Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) in 10th. He should really be aiming higher.
While he lost time on both Saturday and Sunday, he has explanations for them both, which seem sound, if impossible to check. The Belgian crashed on stage 12, with the damage to his legs reportedly hampering him on Saturday's stage 14. Then on Sunday, Enric Mas [Movistar] attacked and gained time, but is still not an immediate threat on GC, unlike Roglič; Evenepoel says that he preferred to let him go and ride to his power.
"The thing with Saturday you cannot compare with Sunday, I had really stiff legs after the crash," he explains. "I could barely stand up on the pedals, and that’s what you need on steep climbs. Saturday was all the negative things coming together. It wasn’t the best situation, but I think we fought back yesterday, even if I had some troubles in my leg from the crash. Today I have no soreness, so I’m really recovering."
"For sure Roglič and Mas are both going very well," Evenepoel adds. "I think Roglič was the strongest of all the GC guys on Saturday, Mas was very strong yesterday. When he attacked I knew I was still quite a bit above him on GC so I didn't want to go above my own limit.
"Me keeping up my own pace didn’t allow them to ride away. I was scared to go above my limits yesterday, which is why I kept pushing my own power. On such a hard stage the time loss was quite limited. The guy with the best legs will be the best in the mountain stages, there is still a lot of time."
There is still a lot of time, but there are just two proper mountain stages to come. While the young Belgian should be applauded for his modesty, the race is his to lose.
"Danger is around every corner," he warns. "I think everyone is getting scared of the roads here in the south of Spain. We’re going slow on the corners because the road is quite slippery. Anything can happen, and we have to be focused 100% every day. We can never think it’s over, not until Sunday evening."
It is hard to look beyond Primož Roglič as the man who could beat Evenepoel. The Slovenian has won the last three editions, and has come into form through this race, as he has recovered from the crash which took him out of this year's Tour de France.
This does not daunt Evenepoel, however, who points out that his "only task is to follow him".
The focus might be on the battle between him and Roglič, but he is keen to open up the contenders, to pass the pressure around.
"The fight for a second place on GC is going to be more open, because they [Roglič and Mas] are only 25 seconds away from each other," Evenepoel says. "Movistar need the points. It’s not only Primoz, [Miguel Ángel] López was going really strong this weekend, so we’ll see. It’s not just about Jumbo and Roglič but it’s about the whole top five. We’re going in with our own strengths.
"The more stages I can finish in defence mode without time loss the better, and then there will be one big fight on Saturday."
As for his biggest worry going into the third and final week of this Vuelta, it is not necessarily racing-oriented, but health.
Covid has run through the peloton at this race, and the battle might just be to finish in good health, rather than to put any more time into his rivals.
"It’s going all over in the bunch," Evenepoel says. "Some guys are riding with Covid. That’s my biggest fear, to not be able to finish the Vuelta because of that or illness. That would be a nightmare."
There are six days between Remco and his "dream" of finishing in the top five or ten of a Grand Tour, and thus avoiding his nightmare. There are also six days between now and Belgium's Grand Tour first win of the 21st century, at last. Sporting immortality waits at the end of the tunnel, if the 22-year-old can stay upright, healthy and on Roglič's wheel. Easy.
Thank you for reading 20 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
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
Unbound Gravel lottery opens two months early, ensuring riders are 'more prepared than ever'
Registration for the 2025 Unbound Gravel will open on Friday, November 1, 2024, and close two weeks later, on November 15. Lottery winners will be announced on November 21, 2024.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Star triathlete Taylor Knibb to take on world's fastest cyclists in the Olympic time trial
Colorado-based 26-year-old Taylor Knibb will be representing Team USA in both the individual time trial and triathlon at the Paris Olympics.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
Remco Evenepoel: No one should doubt me anymore
The Tour de France's third-placed finisher suggests that he will have to reduce his time trial work if he is to beat Tadej Pogačar
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Remco Evenepoel on Tadej Pogačar: He's not the same as us
Belgian was unable to follow Tadej Pogačar's attack on the climb to Isola 2000 on Friday
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tadej Pogačar conquers Isola 2000 to win Tour de France stage 19 and extend his overall lead
Slovenian now leads race by more than five minutes going into the final two stages
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
'Mission accomplished': Remco Evenepoel cements Tour de France podium spot
The Soudal Quick-Step rider says his "main goal" is not to take time on Jonas Vingegaard or Tadej Pogačar, despite dropping the pair on Wednesday
By Adam Becket Published
-
'Serene and calm' Remco Evenepoel matures into Tour de France GC rider
Belgian Soudal Quick-Step rider lost time on stage 11, but takes confidence from a solid display in the Massif Central
By Adam Becket Published
-
'Sometimes you need balls to race': Remco Evenepoel annoyed by Jonas Vingegaard's Tour de France tactics
"Maybe Jonas didn’t have them today," Evenepoel calls for more aggressive riding from two-time champion after enthralling stage on the gravel around Troyes
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It could make you lose the Tour' - Tadej Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel look ahead to gravel stage at Tour de France
GC riders expecting chaotic stage on Sunday, with potential for time losses
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'To only lose 25 seconds is a good day for me' - Jonas Vingegaard defiant after Tour de France time trial
Defending champion loses 25 seconds to race leader Tadej Pogačar on stage seven
By Tom Thewlis Published