"Evenepoel simply can't ride that hard": Dutch expert questions Belgium's tactics at European Championships
Cycling
The 2025 European Cycling Championships were Belgium's opportunity to get back on Tadej Pogacar for his authoritative demonstration of power in Kigali week earlier. While Pogacar had to make ends meet without the absent Primoz Roglic, Remco Evenepoel had the ever-strong Belgian fleet at his command. However Laurens ten Dam finds that the Belgian team have made some tactical mistakes that might have cost them the title.
In his Live Slow, Ride Fast podcast, the Dutch ex-pro looks back at the race that took place on Sunday. After the second lap, Pogacar was already without his Slovenian teammates while Evenepoel still had Louis Vervaeke, Tiesj Benoot and Steff Cras. However instead of using their numbers as a tactical advantage, Belgium pulled over to the front of the pack and helped Pogacar by making the race hard.
"Pogacar was isolated, and the Belgians were down to about four men. Then you could have just let it all fall silent and let Evenepoel's helpers attack. On the other hand, Pogacar would never have lost this race," Ten Dam admits, noting that Pogacar would've been able to easily make up multiple minutes against Evenpoel's colleagues if they were allowed to ride away.
At that point, Pogacar's main task was to isolate Evenepoel and/or ride away on his own. Something he did soon during third time the long ascent of the day. "Evenepoel simply can't keep riding that hard uphill for that long, but he eventually holds Pogacar back by a minute. Pogacar can quickly gain a minute uphill, and Evenepoel doesn't have that ability uphill."
Belgium ruined their own chances
Then was a cat and mouse race with Evenepoel trying to counter a one-minute lag on Pogacar, but without success. The damage was already done and Evenepoel could only settle for yet another silver medal. What could've Belgium done differently?
"They should have climbed those three major climbs as slowly as possible and come into the final with as many Belgians as possible," suggested Ten Dam. "So they could take turns attacking. Actually, the exact opposite of what they did, yes. But yes, you also want to radiate confidence to your leader. Evenepoel radiated it himself."
Ten Dam sounds optimistic that the national coach Serge Pauwels will have learnt a lesson from the last two weeks that beating Pogacar head-on is a near impossible task for anyone. Then we can hope for more diverse tactics from Belgian team in years to come. Even though Pogacar's overwhelming strength might end up countering most efforts...
"But now that he's been caught out twice, if I were national coach Serge Pauwels, I'd talk to Evenepoel and suggest a different approach. He's being outplayed man-to-man, so maybe you should try to make it five-on-one."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
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- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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