The world number 1 left when his teammates had finished flushing out an already very thin peloton. There were 48 terminals left and the world champion had the summit of Colma de Sormano in his sights when he made his only attack of the day. “She was too sharp for me to throw myself into her wheelby Remco Evenepoel. I preferred to continue driving at my own pace.”
Like an admission of impotence from Brabançon, this option – the only valid one – sounded like a symbol of the forces currently present in the one-day races. There is Pogacar, very far ahead of mortals. And, between the two, there is Remco Evenepoel, fabulous in self-sacrifice and willpower while his legs show logical signs of fatigue after an exceptional but grueling year. This Saturday, therefore, Pogacar won the Tour of Lombardy with a considerable lead over the leader of Soudal Quick-Step (3:16) who himself took 1:15 to third, the Italian Giulio Ciccone on the occasion of what was his… only Monument of the year, and his last race of the year.
“I would have liked to have someone with me to lead the hunt behind Tadej, but there was nothing to do anywayexplained an Evenepoel as lucid as ever. This second place is the best result I could achieve. It’s like a victory for me.” He did not shy away from his pleasure, making a little wave of his hand several times to the attention of the spectators during the final straight.
gullI had to be near Remco for this race that was so special for him. So, I surprised him by coming.
As soon as he crossed the finish line, he went to kiss Oumi, his wife, who had surprised him by coming. “It was, in fact, not planned for me to be thereshe called out. Because I have to study for my exams. But I decided to take a plane at the last minute because I told myself that I had to be by his side. This race is still very special for Remco after its fall four years ago.”
Remco Evenepoel before the Tour of Lombardy: “This fall is part of my story, it made me stronger”
The person concerned could not hide a few tears. “A lot of emotions came to the surface. I said I had turned the page, but there is nothing to do: at the end of the race, I thought about everything this Tour of Lombardy means to me.”
gullLately I have been very tired. So I took care of my body.
Surprised to have regained some energy for his very last outing of the season, the world time champion also went to get this second place mentally. He held on as his legs burned and he managed his efforts perfectly. “Lately I felt like I was tired. So, I listened to my body and took it easy during the Italian races, like the Tour of Emilia and the Coppa Bernocchi.”
Now he will take some rest. A lot. “Because I really need it.” He will also support his wife, who is in her last year of university (in economics). “It’s up to me to support her now.”
Afterwards, he will prepare the rest. “I will work to reduce the gap with Tadej” ; he concludes.
He may have finished on the podium in his first Tour de France, won two Olympic titles in the space of a week and retained his world title in the time trial, Remco Evenepoel is already thinking about how to become even better. That’s the mentality of the greatest.
