Remco Evenepoel hopes transfer speculation 'calms down' after winning time trial gold at World Championships
Belgian beat Filippo Ganna of Italy and 19-year-old Josh Tarling to elite world title in Stirling


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
After Remco Evenepoel stormed to a rainbow jersey and gold medal in the men’s elite individual time trial at the World Championships, he said that he hoped that the speculation around his future with the Soudal Quick-Step team would begin to calm down ahead of the Vuelta a España.
Evenepoel has been heavily linked with a move away from the team managed by Patrick Lefevere, with Ineos Grenadiers rumoured to be a possible destination for the 23-year-old who has a contract with Quick-Step until the end of 2026.
Israel-Premier Tech have also been linked with the Belgian’s signature in recent weeks.
However, speaking to the media after powering to victory in Stirling, Evenepoel said that he hoped the noise around his future would die down ahead of the fast approaching Spanish Grand Tour which he won last year.
"Next question," Evenepoel initially said when asked once more about the Ineos link.
“I hope it calms down because of course the Vuelta is a three week race,” Evenepoel added. “If I have to listen to this s**t every day again for three weeks it's going to be a long Vuelta... I hope it will calm a bit down as like I said before, I'm the type of guy who is quite emotional and likes to answer with the pedals, so I think today was a good answer again and I hope I can answer again in the Vuelta but of course, it's a super strong field.
"I will need to be focused from the first day to the last.”
After Filippo Ganna had nudged Britain’s Josh Tarling out of the time trial hot seat, it was only a matter of time before he would then be brushed aside himself in Stirling.
Evenepoel arrived at the base of the final ramp to Stirling castle and sailed up the steep climb to finish 12 seconds ahead of Ganna and land the rainbow jersey in the process. The Belgian explained to the media that he believes nothing is off limits in terms of future goals and targets now that he has a second elite world title to his name.
“This was one of my biggest goals for my career and for this season,” he said. “That's another achievement unlocked. I think the next big goals must be the Grand Tours, the one week road races and try to win everything. But that's not easy at all with a super strong field of riders on every terrain.
“We'll see where we are and what the goals will be but I want to do all that's possible.”
Evenepoel explained that the planning and timing of his efforts had been almost perfect and that he had tried to not go too deep too soon. The 23-year-old said that with the tough cobbled climb to the finish, it was important to hold enough back ready for a final push to the line.
"Well, my strategy was to push a lot from the moment that we completely turned back to the third intermediate time check,” he explained. “Then I wanted to push a bit less to the bottom of the climb. So I know I probably lost a few seconds on Pippo [Filippo Ganna] there because it was a downhill part and with my weight, you know, you have to keep pushing, actually, to keep the speed up.
"So I think I lost maybe a bit of time on the, let's say, from four kilometres to one kilometre to go. But then I think I did a very good climb, very hard pace, from the bottom to the top... I think the pacing strategy was just perfect and it also shows up in the results.”
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
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Tom is a News and Features Writer at Cycling Weekly, and previously worked in communications at Oxford Brookes University. He has reported from a wide range of races and events including the Tour de France and World Championships.
-
-
Snapped cranks, motorbikes and decade-old handlebars - breaking sprinting's oldest world record
Jeffrey Hoogland is going after the longest-standing record in track cycling
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Best fenders - mudguards - for gravel bikes 2023: top models we recommend
Want to extend the life of your components and ride in greater comfort? We’ve rounded up the best fenders / mudguards to protect both you and your gravel bike
By Stefan Abram Published
-
Jumbo-Visma and Soudal Quick-Step discuss potential merger - reports
Idea of merger between the two teams could see new ‘super team’ known as Soudal-Visma or Visma-Soudal as soon as 2024
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Five things we learned from the Vuelta a España 2023: Sepp Kuss is the real deal and Ineos still lacking
Here's what we learned from the final Grand Tour of the 2023 season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Remco Evenepoel powers to solo breakaway victory on stage 18 of Vuelta a España
Evenepoel seizes third victory of 2023 Vuelta at La Cruz de Linares as Sepp Kuss stays top of general classification
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It's nice to beat the Tour winner' but Remco Evenepoel considers relinquishing Vuelta a España lead
The defending champion has a 31 second advantage over Jonas Vingegaard
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Remco Evenepoel hopes to 'steal' Jonas Vingegaard's secrets at Vuelta a España as he looks to 2024 Tour de France
Belgian aiming for second Vuelta a España triumph over the next three weeks, but faces stiff opposition
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘I knew I was the favourite’ - Lotte Kopecky delivers on World Championships pressure to win rainbow jersey
The Belgian powered away from her rivals to land road world title in the streets of Glasgow
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Lizzie Deignan ‘optimistic’ after impressive World Championships performance
Brit says she felt the efforts of early breakaway in closing stages of ‘relentless’ race
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock overcomes mechanical issues to win cross-country MTB gold at World Championships
Yorkshireman says his gears were ‘jumping on every climb’ on final lap of Glentress Forest course
By Tom Thewlis Published