• Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 10:03 AM
Interview Remco Evenepoel has become the cycling king of Paris. With the unique double in the time trial and the road race in one Olympic Games, the Belgian son of a god has made history again. “I shouldn’t start floating now, because I definitely want to race for another ten years”, he says shortly after the most beautiful victory of his career.
A good hour after the finish, Remco Evenepoel (24) is the first of the medal winners to reach the auditorium of Trocadéro. Apparently, the French TV channels in their capital need even more time for the French silver and bronze winners Valentin Madouas and Christophe Laporte. Evenepoel begs for something to eat, after which he is supplied with energy bars and Snickers by the journalists present. “Yes, I can definitely eat something unhealthy now too,” he says with a wink.
Did you have this plan in mind to attack with about forty kilometers to go?
“It was clear that the Butte Montmartre was not my favorite climb. The moment I decided to attack is such a typical race situation that suits me. At that moment, the pace was high, but because of the merger of the two groups, it stopped for a while, so I saw my chance to accelerate. I think it was a powerful move.”
“I quickly had a lead of about 30 to 40 seconds. I was lucky that I could join the early attackers and that a few riders wanted to work with me. Valentin Madouas was the last one left. He was really the strongest of that group and it took me a lot of effort to get him out of my wheel on the last lap. So yes, we perfectly executed the plan that we had discussed with the team the night before the race.”
With 3.9 kilometers to go, you get a flat tire. You start to panic. What went through your mind?
“I was unlucky enough to touch a cobblestone with my rear wheel, after which my rear tire was immediately flat. About a kilometer before this happened, a motorbike came riding next to me and indicated on a sign that my lead was 25 seconds. That was the only communication because we were riding without earphones.”
“It turned out to be wrong information. But, that was the reason why I got quite stressed when I got a flat tire further on. I was afraid that Madouas would pass me while I was standing there on the road to change bikes. Luckily the change went very quickly. In the end, it’s extra ‘spice’ for this victory.”
Photo: Cor Vos
It is the year that three great champions win three special doubles. Mathieu van der Poel the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Tadej Pogacar the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France. And now you the double Olympic time trial and road race. What does it mean to achieve this?
“This is very special. These will be the Olympic Games that will be held closest to my home country Belgium. That is why there were many fans, family and friends along the route. To celebrate this success with all my compatriots on the course is very special. This month was very important for me this season. With third place in the Tour de France I achieved my goal there. To win two more gold medals here I would never have dared to dream. Especially with this magnificent victory on the most beautiful finish line you can imagine. Yes, this has become the best month of my career.”
How important was the Belgian team in this achievement?
“Everyone in the team has a big part in this medal. Tiesj Benoot controlled the race for a long time, which was ultimately necessary. Jasper was always ready to join important attacks. And Wout did what he had to do: follow Mathieu van der Poel when he launched his attack on Montmartre. After that it was up to me. How we raced was exactly the plan we had agreed on Friday evening. Each of us deserves an eleven instead of a ten.”
When did you get the idea to also take the gold medal from the time trial today so that you could take this special photo with two gold medals at the Eiffel Tower?
“To be honest, taking the first gold medal was not my idea, it was something my wife Oumi suggested. I had left that medal at home in Belgium. This morning she sent me a message that she had taken the gold medal to Paris just in case… I really appreciate that because now I have a pretty unique photo for my Instagram. I still remember the photo of swimmer Michael Phelps during the Beijing Olympics with his gold medal around his neck. Now I have experienced that feeling a little bit too. It is very special.”
How important was it to be at home in Belgium for a few days after winning the Olympic time trial?
“I was happy that I could spend two days very relaxed. It was actually a kind of copy paste of what I did after the Tour de France. On Sunday I did absolutely nothing and on Monday I started cycling a bit loose again. You could say that I used two days for recovery. It was a good recipe to be ready for the road race again.”
In Belgium you are more than regularly compared to Eddy Merckx. How difficult is that?
“I am myself. Eddy raced in the past, I race in the present. They are different eras that we cannot compare. Eddy has achieved much more than I have done so far. It is my career and I do it my way. So far that is a good way.”
Photo: Cor Vos
The finish in front of the Eiffel Tower is very special. What went through your mind when you stepped over the line of your bike and made the victory gesture?
“It’s true that the last meters of this race were very special. I knew that there was a ‘little building’ behind me. I really wanted to enjoy that moment. The finish photo with the Eiffel Tower in the background will probably be one of the most beautiful ever. Maybe even the most beautiful.”
You also made a gesture that you were on the phone. Was there a message behind it?
“I did that in February too, at the first victory this year in Portugal. Although I am not the first to make this gesture. Tennis player Ben Shelton did it before. It has the meaning: I’m dialled in. I have achieved my goal. I wanted to celebrate my moment after what I have accomplished this past week in this way.”
With these Olympic titles you are a great example for many. What message do you give to children?
“Very simple: any dream you chase, you can achieve. You have to make sure you enjoy what you do. Then you have to do everything the right way. You have to have your own strategy on how to achieve that dream and then make sure you gather the right people around you. Your team, your family, your friends, everyone has to support you. In this world today with all the pressure and stress, you can’t do it alone anymore.”
Aren’t you afraid that the madness around you in Belgium will only get bigger?
“It was already crazy in Belgium, but I’m used to it now. I’m sure my family and my team will help me to keep my feet on the ground so that I don’t float. After all, I still have to race for at least ten years. I’ll have to go through all of this as relaxed as possible, but first I deserve to enjoy this crazy moment.”
