"Cian Uijtdebroeks is being compared to me. That remains very strange" - Remco Evenepoel admits bad feelings towards continuous comparisons
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel has recently talked about the early years of his career, and has specifically talked about his time as a football player in the youth ranks of the Belgian Anderlecht Football club, and how that has led him to a cycling career where to this day he remains the target of comparisons.
Evenepoel told L'Équipe how his past in football has helped the transition onto the bike. "For example, it helped me in terms of stability. I've developed abs, which helps me maintain my cycling position better at times. From my last years as a footballer I still have strong muscles in my upper body. I did a lot of bodybuilding back then. I have the feeling that there is still a lot of football player in me," he said.
Famously Evenepoel was a football player and whilst recovering from an injury on the bike he found out the talent he had. Then began a meteoric rise through the ranks, where in his final junior year he culminated with incomparable success among his peers. However things were not always as bright for the 23-year old.
"They hurt me. My heart was really broken, Anderlecht was everything to me," he recalls his experience in the team where he didn't frequently play. "After that period I became more stubborn. If there was something negative in my life, I would deal with it and move on. It happened, for example, after my crash in the Giro di Lombardia. I then went through my rehabilitation without any problems. When I was in pain, I kept going. Sometimes even a bit too much," Evenepoel continued.
Ever since his young years he's also been compared to compatriot Eddy Merckx, a position of pressure that few riders have experienced. That has calmed down over the past year as Evenepoel took the Velo d'Or for best male rider of the year following stupendous wins, but now he finds himself on the other side of the situation.
"No one will ever be able to be compared to Eddy Merckx. So many victories in a relatively short period of time, that can never happen again. It is cycling in another world. That's not the same anymore. Now, for example, 19-year-old Cian Uijtdebroeks is being compared to me. That remains very strange. I don't like being compared to anyone. There are no two identical people on earth. That's why I struggle with comparisons," he concluded.
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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- Where Merckx just rode every single race he could and won all the time, Hinault won less often (percentage wise) because he was more judicious in what he raced. His palmares are nuts. He had amazing rivals, one to start his career and another to end it in the grand tours. His classics were solid. What sets him apart from Merckx and Pogačar are that he basically dabbled in the classics while the other two love(d) them. I used to compare Pogačar to Hinault for his grand tour record and occasional classics win, until I realized that the comparison was wrong. Pogačar loves the classics - ah, the memory of his reaction to finishing fourth in a 2 person sprint in Flanders in ‘22: utter domination in any one day race since then, even when he doesn’t win. Hinault lived for the grand tours and I don’t think anyone else will ever reach his record. 10 wins in 13 attempts? Good lord. An amazing rider. Wish there was more footage to watch.RidesHills11-11-2026
- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
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