Remco Evenepoel has succeeded wildly in the 2022 season, something which has been very well taken in Belgium who have gotten a new Grand Tour winner and World Champion. Axel Merckx, manager of Hagens Bermans Axeon and son of Eddy Merckx talked about his compatriot.
“Liège-Bastogne-Liège has changed everything," he told Het Nieuwsblad. "You could still see his nerves in the Brabantse Pijl. The irritations. But once a monument like Liège in your pocket, you saw all the pressure drop. Nothing had to be done, everything was allowed. And then you see with riders like Remco that a lot is suddenly possible. The physical potential was always there, but he also took a step mentally there. He has become much calmer, everything is more balanced.”
A late comer into cycling, Evenepoel's talent has seen him turn pro at only 19 years of age with Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, and has ever since endured tremendous media pressure, dramas and almost unreal expectations. 2022 has seen him however handle it better. “That will cause a certain amount of stress. On the other hand, I think he even likes that. He handles it well. It just gives him more confidence," Merckx said.
“It will only be a problem if it (his form is a poorer than this year). Then such a jersey can weigh heavily... But if Remco is there from the start, it will even be an extra incentive," he continued. Evenepoel debuted his rainbow jersey at the recent Binche - Chimay - Binche however without pressure to perform. 2023 will be a year with different challenges but less pressure.
Read also
“Suppose that the next few years would be disappointing at Quick-Step. That he hasn’t won the Tour in two or three years," Merckx launched, warning of the Belgian team's need to build a group around Evenepoel to support him in the Grand Tours and make sure he doesn't feel the need to move to a different squad to match his ambitions.
"Then the temptation to try elsewhere may increase. Because that will make him think: those other teams have already won so many Grand Tours, they know how to do it. Seductive," he concluded.
Read also
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
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.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Pidcock finished 9th place, 29 minutes down. he is a helluva rider, so gutsy. and he is amazing at all disciplines. but this headline is . . .mij09-11-2026
- I know, watch the video. and listen to her competitors. it was a tricky tacky call at best. WTF is this guy talking about??? my original comment was from the picture it didn't look like anything.mij09-11-2026
- I dunno what you're talking about. you make no sense. MS's competitor and the competitors coach said it was BS. she didn't deviate in a way that relegation should be required. revel LOL. you're so cool, in your own mind.mij09-11-2026
- deviation lol, watch the videomij09-11-2026
- the 'No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines' comment was unfortunately a bit off. didn't you just boast about your principles in the comments section of another article?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- Are you MrMauMau 2.0? Nothing you are saying is really relevant. Vaguely connected, but irrelevant. The conversation is whether Schreiber impeded Brand or not.
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment