When the Brabançonne sounded on the podium in Wollongong (Australia), tears invaded the baby face of Remco Evenepoel. They succeeded the finger placed on his mouth, a few minutes earlier when he crossed the line, to celebrate his first title of world champion, Sunday, September 25. A gesture as if to respond to the criticisms that have often fallen on the impetuous Belgian. But these no longer really have a say in the matter as his world title has finally cemented his domination.
“I’m super happy. I dreamed of being world champion. A Monument, a classic, a grand tour, the World Cup: I won everything this year, it’s incredible”, could not believe the new holder of the rainbow jersey after his victory. Thanks to this title, the one who only swapped football for cycling in 2017 becomes the first winner of a Monument (the five greatest cycling classics), a grand tour and the World Cup since Bernard Hinault in 1980.
Above all, this success crowns an exceptional season and his return to the fore. “It’s no coincidence that it’s Remco (Evenepoel) who wins. He was very strong and not just today. He had an amazing season.”even greeted the outgoing double world champion Julian Alaphilippe, at the microphone of France Télévisions.
Two years after his extremely serious fall in a ravine on the Tour of Lombardy and more than a year after his resumption of competition, Remco Evenepoel has confirmed his return to the fore. Even beyond since he has proven that he can win on almost any ground.
His first stroke of brilliance took place at home, in Belgium. At the end of April, the Fleming won over Liège-Bastogne-Liège. By hanging the oldest of the classics in front of his compatriots Quinten Hermans and Wout van Aert, the native of Schepdaal entered another dimension, that of the winners of Monument. “I can say today that I have returned to my best level and that I am among the best in the world.”he claimed after his victory won in a scenario similar to that of his world title, with an overpowered attack less than 30 kilometers from the finish.
In Liège-Bastogne-Liège, he already succeeded Philippe Gilbert, the last Belgian to raise his arms in La Cité ardente (2011). He repeated the performance at the Worlds, ten years after his elder. “I couldn’t dream of having a better successor to the world title”rightly commented on the future retiree on his Twitter account.
proficiency @EvenepoelRemco ! I couldn’t have dreamed of a better successor to the world title! #belgium #world champion pic.twitter.com/Ebsei7PJmH
— Philippe Gilbert (@PhilippeGilbert) September 25, 2022
After a second consecutive victory in the Classic of San Sebastian (Spain), at the end of July, with disconcerting ease, Remco Evenepoel then presented himself at the start of the Vuelta. He arrived full of ambition for his second experience on a grand tour, more than a year after a complicated Giro which he had ended up giving up. It was then his return to competition, nine months after his violent fall on the Tour of Lombardy.
“The little cannibal” was therefore particularly scrutinized on the Iberian roads. He lived up to expectations by dominating the Tour of Spain head and shoulders. Fifteen days with the overall leader’s red jersey and two stage victories in the bag to become the first Belgian to win a grand tour since Johan De Muynck in 1978.
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The doubts that accompanied him about his ability to shine over three weeks were shattered. The field of possibilities has widened further for the son of Patrick Evenepoel, a professional cyclist in the 1990s.
Two weeks later, the highlight of a royal season was planted in Wollongong (Australia). His third place last Sunday in the time trial raised questions about the form of the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider. On the course of the road race designed south of Sydney, Remco Evenepoel responded to it in the best possible way.
The World Championships were not, however, a good memory for the prodigy. Last year, during the Worlds played at home, in Leuven (Belgium), he set fire to the powder of the Belgian team for not having respected the tactics articulated around Wout van Aert. This year they were both team leaders and the wheeler’s daring performance paid off.
“We ran as a team today, we wanted to bring the jersey back to Belgium, commented the new world champion on France Télévisions. Whether it was Wout (van Aert) or me it was the same. He was instructed to wait and I to attack earlier, that’s what I did.”
The legitimate pressure of such an event had no negative influence on the Flemish. The one imposed on each outing by the iridescent jersey is obviously different but nothing seems to hinder the delirious rise of Remco Evenepoel. The next stage must inevitably lead him to the Tour de France. Hoping that the world champion will be there from 2023…