Remco Evenepoel: The Rising Star of Belgian Cycling

Fun facts about Remco Evenepoel

Early football career. Remco Evenepoel began his sports career as a football player, joining the youth teams of R.S.C. Anderlecht and PSV Eindhoven. He also represented Belgium’s youth national teams before eventually switching to cycling in 2017, realizing his physical abilities were better suited for cycling.

Quick success in cycling. After switching to cycling, Evenepoel experienced immediate success, winning the road race and time trial at the 2018 European Junior Road Cycling Championships. He finished an astonishing 9 minutes and 44 seconds ahead of the second-place rider in the road race.

Skipping the under-23 rank. Evenepoel decided to skip the under-23 rank and turned professional with Deceuninck–Quick-Step after his impressive performance at the 2018 UCI Road World Championships, where he won both the road race and time trial in the junior categories.

First World Tour race win. In 2019, Evenepoel became the third-youngest rider ever to win a cycling classic when he claimed victory at the Clásica de San Sebastián, breaking away from the field and soloing to the finish line.

Strong debut season. In his debut professional season in 2019, Evenepoel won the general classification, a stage, and the points classification at the Tour of Belgium, showcasing his immense talent and potential.

Resilience after a serious accident. In 2020, Evenepoel suffered a severe accident at Il Lombardia, where he fractured his pelvis and sustained a right lung contusion. Despite the injuries, he made a strong comeback, returning to competition at the 2021 Giro d’Italia and finishing 7th in the prologue time trial.

First Olympic appearance. Evenepoel competed in Tokyo’s rescheduled 2020 Summer Olympics, representing Belgium in the road race and time trial events. He earned a top-10 finish in the time trial.

First Elite World Championship medal. At the 2019 World Championships in Yorkshire, UK, Evenepoel won his first elite-level world championship medal by taking the silver in the individual time trial event, finishing 1 minute and 9 seconds behind Rohan Dennis.

Controversial at Road World Championships. Evenepoel was at the center of a controversy during the 2021 Road World Championships when Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx criticized him for riding mainly for himself. Evenepoel’s performance in the race seemed to defy this criticism, as he was instrumental in creating the decisive selection in the final laps.

First Monument win. In 2022, Evenepoel won the prestigious Liège–Bastogne–Liège, one of cycling’s monuments, in his first-ever participation. He completed the race with an average speed of 41.397 km/h, making it the fastest edition in the race’s history.

Clásica de San Sebastián triumph. Evenepoel won the 2022 Clásica de San Sebastián with a remarkable 44-kilometer solo attack, finishing almost two minutes ahead of second-place Pavel Sivakov.

First Grand Tour victory. In September 2022, Evenepoel won the Vuelta a España, his first Grand Tour triumph. He took the red jersey after stage 6 and managed to hold onto it until the race’s conclusion in Madrid.

Dominant time trial performance. During the 2022 Vuelta a España, Evenepoel extended his general classification lead by winning the stage 10 individual time trial. He completed the 30.9 km course in 33 minutes and 18 seconds, 48 seconds ahead of the second-place rider, Primoz Roglic.

Belgian Time Trial Champion. Evenepoel is the 2022 Belgian Time Trial Champion, beating his teammate Yves Lampaert by 37 seconds over the 34.8km course.

Distinctive nicknames. Evenepoel earned various nicknames such as the Aerobullet, Belgian Wunderkind, and The Little Cannibal due to his incredible achievements at such a young age. He has quickly become one of the most promising talents in professional cycling.

Sharing rooms with Philippe Gilbert. Evenepoel has enjoyed the support and guidance of fellow Belgian cyclist Philippe Gilbert, who has taken on a mentor role for the young star. Gilbert, a former world champion and multi-monument winner, has provided invaluable advice to Evenepoel as he navigates the world of professional cycling.

Fan of video games. When he is not on the bike, Evenepoel enjoys playing video games, particularly FIFA, which he used to play during his football career. His love for gaming helps him unwind and balance his professional and personal life.

Father as a sports director. Evenepoel’s father, Patrick, played a crucial role in his early cycling career, acting as a sports director for his son’s amateur team. Patrick’s support and guidance undoubtedly contributed to Remco’s rapid rise in the sport.

Winning more races. Evenepoel is known for his ambitious goals and his relentless drive to succeed. He has stated that he wants to win all three Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España) and become the best cyclist in the world. He has already achieved one of these goals by winning the Vuelta a España, and he will undoubtedly be a rider to watch in the coming years as he continues to pursue his dreams.

A bright future ahead. Remco Evenepoel, still in his early 20s, has already accomplished a remarkable amount in his short career. With his incredible talent, dedication, and ambition, the Belgian Wunderkind promises to be a dominant force in professional cycling for many years, making him a fascinating athlete to watch and follow.