Remco Evenepoel: 'I didn’t know today was the cyclocross at Overijse'
Belgian rider had an dramatic day at Brabantse Pijl, eventually finishing sixth
Remco Evenepoel had an active day out in Belgium on Wednesday. He was in multiple breaks, warned for pushing another rider, off the front, struggling to hold onto the decisive move, and then boxed out in the final sprint.
At the end of Brabantse Pijl in Overijse, after finishing sixth, the 22-year old was magnanimous in defeat: "In the end I didn’t really have the legs to win today."
The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider certainly looked good all day, but was constantly working on the front, which may have counted against him in the end. Crucially, he was also outnumbered in the move, the sole Quick-Step representative in a group of seven which contained three, yes three, Ineos Grenadiers riders.
"Ineos, what can you say, strongest team, three guys in the front," Evenepoel explained afterwards. "When they let one one guy go like this and you jump behind and they jump on your wheel, you cannot really do anything. It was really hard."
That is exactly what happened in the final kilometres, as Magnus Sheffield attacked and soloed to victory, while the remaining four non-Ineos riders were powerless to do anything.
Evenepoel looked well positioned to sprint for the podium, but was clearly boxed out and forced to brake in the the last 500m, a move which caused Tim Wellens to be relegated from third to ninth.
The former was clearly angered by the move, saying afterwards: "If you do this in a bunch sprint you get disqualified, so I hope they rewatch it because it was really dangerous. If I don’t brake, I crash and a really hard crash. We will see what they do with it."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
It was a wet day out in the middle of Belgium, with rain appearing despite it not being forecast, causing some sketchy scenes on the cobbled climbs that featured towards the end of the race.
"I didn’t know today was the cyclocross at Overijse, I thought it was the road race, but it looked like a cyclocross race today," Evenepoel quipped. "It was really slippery today, it was a big task to stay on the bike and not crash."
The young Belgian appeared to question Sheffield's aptitude, before immediately rowing back on his comments, but was full of admiration for Ineos, as they appeared to race like Quick-Step in previous years.
"I’m not sure the strongest rider won... probably yes because if you can still attack like this you are still strong, but for sure the strongest team won," he said. "When you are three guys out of seven, you are the strongest team."
We are unlikely to see Evenepoel in races with more cobbles than Brabantse Pijl, however, he explained, so do not expect to be watching him on the Oude Kwaremont or the Muur van Geraardsbergen anytime soon.
"On the cobbles I was not really comfortable," he said. "Epic day. I do not really like to do the Flemish classics, there are too many cobbles."
He will be one to watch at the upcoming Ardennes Classics, however.
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.
-
Sport is a multi-billion pound industry designed to achieve a pile of things that don’t actually need doing
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Michael Woods aims to shine at GP Montréal after disappointment last time out
Woods buoyed by recent Vuelta a España stage win as he gets set to race back on home turf
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Can Remco Evenepoel stop Tadej Pogačar at the World Championships?
The Belgian will lead his nation in Switzerland in a fortnight, in the absence of Wout van Aert
By Adam Becket Published
-
'The future is bright': British Cycling CEO praises homegrown talent at Tour of Britain
Four Brits currently make up the top four in the general classification going into the race's final weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Trophies on wheels: a look at the uniquely painted bikes gifted to the 2024 Olympic champions
Remco Evenepoel, Kristen Faulkner and Grace Brown received bikes that shine as brightly as the golden medals themselves
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Tom Pidcock to go head-to-head with Remco Evenepoel at upcoming Tour of Britain Men
Pidcock to ride six-day race for Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe confirmed for Tour of Britain Men
Double Olympic champion and Alaphilippe headline Soudal Quick-Step team selection
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'Dialled in' - Remco Evenepoel explains iconic telephone celebration at Paris Olympics
Belgian celebrates Olympic double with borrowed salute in front of the Eiffel Tower
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Remco Evenepoel in line to race Tour of Britain after Olympics success
Time trial gold medallist could feature for Soudal Quick-Step during six day event in September
By Tom Thewlis 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