Remco Evenepoel's Pyrenean redemption

Remco Evenepoel's Pyrenean redemption

A restless, tearful night gives way to a new dawn

Photos: Getty Images Words: Chris Marshall-Bell

In the first public explanation behind Remco Evenepoel’s disastrous Vuelta a España queen stage performance, the Soudal–Quick-Step sports director Klaas Lodewyck said that “cycling is not racing on a simulator, and we are all human beings.”

Twenty-four hours on from Evenepoel’s remorseless toppling, the Belgian broke into tears of joy and relief as he rebounded with a stunning comeback on the second consecutive day in the Pyrenees. This was the sight of the human, not the machine, letting all his emotions pour out. 

Cycling is a wicked sport: so much time, money, and energy is invested in the pursuit of glory; one bad day can destroy months of preparation and sully a perception of greatness. Evenepoel’s tears were the reflection of the pain he had endured on the race’s brief foray into France.

His night in Lourdes had been restless. “I didn’t sleep too much,” he revealed. “I had a very bad night [with] negative thoughts in my head.” His defeat on the Aubisque, Spandelles and Tourmalet had hit him like a punch in the stomach. “It was a difficult evening with a lot of tears and crying,” he added.

Read more: Vuelta a España 2023 stage 15 preview

There was only one way such a bloody-minded individual would respond. And any talk of him packing his bags were quashed the moment he pulled up to the start of stage 14. Within minutes, he was attacking to get in the breakaway; on the first climb, Col Hourcère, he was off the front alongside Romain Bardet. Only the Frenchman would see him again all day, but not in the last four kilometres when Evenepoel rode away.

It’s difficult to describe this as a defining comeback, for Evenepoel, at almost 20 minutes down, remains completely out of the GC picture. But it was a resurgence that demonstrated his mental fortitude. “Today I woke up, and I told myself to go for it, to make the best of it,” he said. “I can be very proud of this answer after yesterday.”

The Belgian, now counting 49 career wins, had done a recon of stage 14 because he anticipated it would be crucial to the general classification battle. But without his presence in the GC group, the race for red is now subdued, a procession for Jumbo-Visma. Disappointingly, but not unsurprisingly, the GC fight was dull and muted, Sepp Kuss maintaining his 1:37 advantage over his Jumbo teammate Primož Roglič.

Read more: The day it all went wrong for Remco Evenepoel

It meant that all the attention could be on Evenepoel – as he doubtless likes it. This time, though, for the right reasons. His stage 13 capitulation will eat away at him until he next appears at a Grand Tour – expected to be the 2024 Tour de France – but in the meantime, it will serve as motivation as he sets about consolidating his new-found lead in the mountains classification and adding more Vuelta stages to his palmarès. “That’s a nice dream to go with towards Madrid,” he smiled.

Evenepoel’s daily mood has fluctuated during the Vuelta’s first two weeks: there has been anger, frustration, helplessness, and also delight, bravado, and swagger. Friday was nothing but deep sorrow. His win on stage 14 will not make up for the bleakest day in his cycling career, but it has certainly turned a scowl into a smile. The question now is, fuelled by the burning desire to prove his doubters wrong, how many more stages will Evenepoel win before the race ends?

Photos: Getty Images Words: Chris Marshall-Bell

READ MORE

Arvid de Kleijn

Gymnastics, living with parents, and high expectations: Sprinter Arvid de Kleijn is a self-made pro

The Dutch cyclist has proved that with patience and persistence, dreams do come true 

Read more
Turning a corner: Is the Ineos Grenadiers's flurry of victories a sign of things to come?

Turning a corner: Is the Ineos Grenadiers's flurry of victories a sign of things to come?

Wins from Egan Bernal, Michał Kwiatkowski, and Josh Tarling have delivered the team's most prolific months since June last year – but can it propel...

Read more
Fabio Jakobsen: This is how you make sprints safer

Fabio Jakobsen: This is how you make sprints safer

As the first big sprints battles of the year take place at the UAE Tour, Picnic PostNL’s Fabio Jakobsen has an idea of how to...

Read more
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig for MNSTRY

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig: ‘I want to be back racing with my heart’

The Danish rider has signed a two-year contract with CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto, changing her training, fuelling and mindset in order to get back on top of the...

Read more
Tadej Pogačar at the 2024 Il Lombardia

UAE Tour 2025 preview and contenders: Can anyone deny Pogačar?

A raft of top sprinters are lining up to vie for stage victories in the year's second WorldTour stage race

Read more

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE