July 05, 2024
The Belgian rider’s victory in the individual time trial signifies another step up in his career progression
Twenty-four-year-old Remco Evenepoel’s name sits at the top of the results sheet for stage seven of the 2024 Tour de France. Beneath the Soudal–Quick-Step rider are the three best general classification riders of this generation: Tadej Pogačar, Primož Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard. In the stage, Evenepoel put over ten seconds into Pogačar, the man who just recently dominated the Giro d’Italia, and over 40 seconds into two-time Tour de France winner, Jonas Vingegaard. In the biggest race of them all, the Belgian rider has stated his intentions: he will be one of the critical contenders for this year’s Tour de France.
Evenepoel’s previous results make it easy to forget that this is his maiden Tour stage win. He might be a world champion and Vuelta a España winner, but a victory in Le Grande Boucle has, until now, eluded him. It was clear what it meant when he got the confirmation he had won over the radio while sitting in the hot seat: Evenepoel put his head in his hands and battled the emotion. With everything that has been said and written about him and all the expectation he carries on his shoulders, it has been a long journey to this point for the Belgian rider.
“After a week of racing, this is something special,” Evenepoel gushed after the stage. “This is my first Tour, I’m really enjoying it. I feel very relaxed. I’m pleased and honoured to win the stage and to be with the biggest and best GC riders.”
A prolific winner as a junior rider, the pressure on Evenepoel has been high ever since he graduated to the professional ranks. Belgium have long been excited to call him the ‘next Eddy Merckx’ and on multiple occasions the 24-year-old has had his scraps with the press who pose this comparison to him. There have been times where it has looked like it was all going wrong for Evenepoel, but Soudal–Quick-Step have done well to keep him grounded and on track. The rewards of that come on days like today, when Evenepoel proves he is one of the best.
Now, however, the question that will be thrown around is what else can Evenepoel do in this race? His time trial victory is proof that his form is exemplary, but two weeks still remain for him to fight for yellow. He said at…