The recent monstrous battles between Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar during Milan-San Remo, the Tour des Flandres and Paris-Roubaix would have almost made us forget that there is another UFO in the current international peloton. This one bears the name of Remco Evenepoel and he won, this Friday, La Flèche Brabançonne, at home or almost, more than six months after his last appearance in competition (see classification). An XXL performance, another one, for a runner accustomed to impressing everyone from the junior ranks and who this time realizes the prowess of beating Wout Van Aert in a two-fed sprint, in Costaud, for his recovery race even though a few weeks ago, it was not sure to be able to one day be able to find the competition following his accident this winter. “For me, the biggest performance is not that he wins but simply that he is there, on the race”confessed his father, Patrick, with Directive A few minutes after arrival. “There were still doubts on the side of certain media on the fact that he returns to the level, but not on our side. This is proof that we must always remain positive and continue to work”he adds. Directive went to the press conference after the Belgian of Sudal Quick-Step. Interview.
Directvelo: The emotions were strong after arrival …
Remco Evenepoel: This victory is for my dad’s best friend, Pascal Vanherberghen. He died a month ago. It was the first race where he was not with my father. His wife and son are alone. It was not easy to see them cry on the podium … but it was a motivation during the sprint.
Are you surprised to have been the fastest during this two-sided sprint?
Yes, Wout is not just anyone. I would have had more confidence if I had been able to start in his wheel. However, I know that I have a good sprint after a difficult race and when we have often been in red zone before. But beating it by launching first and having rolled the last two kilometers in the lead is top. Wout is someone who wins sprints in small groups but he has also won massive sprints. It’s new for me to beat such a sprint. It’s all good for confidence. This proves that I must not necessarily happen on my own to win. I can manage in a two or small group sprint. It was dared to start in mind, but the wind was back and it made it easier.
“We agreed to finish two”
The fact that Wout had already lost sprints in 2025 played in your head?
A little bit. I especially had the feeling that I was the best in the last lap. When I attacked in the Herstraat and we dropped (Joe) Blackmore, he was in the wheel but I felt that it was difficult for him. Wout also made the tempo in Moskeestraat, but I think it is for fear that I attack. This does not take away that Wout was super strong today. It was thanks to his counterattack on mine that we were able to leave.
When did you realize that you could be a major player in this Brabançonne arrow, although it was your recovery race?
The plan was not to attack so early (48 km from the finish, editor’s note). We wanted to launch hostilities in the second round, about 35 terminals from the finish. But the Visma-Lease A Bike accelerated. I felt that it was time to go there because they had put the gum in the Moskeestraat. This is why I therefore wanted to reduce this group. And at that time, I no longer had a teammate either. You had to go. When I saw that there were two of us, then three and that the gap went to 30-40 seconds, I knew that we could go far, but we had to let go of English. It is always easier to drive the final for two rather than three. We agreed to finish two. It was the right tactic. We know each other well, we often drive together in the national team. Suddenly, we quickly understood each other. After the Herstraat, I proposed in Wout that we collaborate until the end, otherwise we were likely to leave empty -handed. It was no longer useful to attack. This is what had to do.
“To finish alone, it would have taken one more turn”
Was it important to find the victory from the start?
For confidence, finishing 1st or 2nd, it would have given me the same feeling. After the race we made, being beaten by Wout would not have changed anything. Losing against him would have been normal. It’s a surprise to win. I show the team that I am ready for the classics. It is above all a little more pressure for the team for the Ardennes classics. This is what we like, carry the weight of the race. We will both be watched with Tadej Pogacar. Our teams will control the race and this will be the case for the next three classics.
You are already completely competitive, almost as if nothing had happened!
The hardest moment will have been in Moskeestraat. I mounted it three times more or less in the cadence. I knew that was where I could be a little more hard, but I am reassured on the efforts of a minute. It will still be necessary to analyze all this with my coach but I am satisfied at this level. When I see what I can do after riding the last two kilometers in mind, it’s great. The latest workouts behind scooter based on intensity and speed with my father have borne fruit. Wout’s early attack made it possible to get the legs and lungs out. I needed it to go there. Tomorrow, I will make a quiet outing on the wheels of my teammates. I don’t have the feeling of being dead after 3:30 am. I was able to set up all the bumps at the same rate. To finish alone, it would have taken one more turn, but it was not necessary. Sometimes it is beneficial to find yourself in a situation in which you are not used to having answers and it was the case today with this arrival for two.
