Remco Evenepoel’s performance at the 2025 Critérium du
Dauphiné has raised alarm bells inside and outside his camp. Despite a
brilliant time trial, he finished fourth place, over four minutes down on Tadej
Pogacar, and beaten to the podium by young German Lipowitz, was not what the
Belgian or his team expected. And with the Tour de France now just two weeks
away, tensions are rising.
“Apparently he is furious,” Dirk De Wolf told Het
Nieuwsblad, describing Evenepoel’s mood during altitude training in Tignes.
“First of all, he is on his own. It has to improve.”
De Wolf, a former professional with close ties to the
Evenepoel family, has been in contact with Remco’s father since the Dauphiné
ended. While he made clear that Evenepoel is “koleirig” (furious) primarily
with himself, the frustration also extends to the team setup.
“The team was not good in the Dauphiné: forty men in front
and no one else with him. Remco who has to get refreshments himself. That has
to improve in the Tour,” De Wolf said, capturing the isolation the Soudal – Quick-Step
leader reportedly felt in the mountains.
The situation echoes last year’s run-in to the Tour.
Evenepoel was seventh at the 2024 Dauphiné, only to bounce back with a strong
Tour that included a stage win, the white jersey, and a third-place finish
overall on debut. But this time there is added concern: Mikel Landa, a critical
support rider last year, is no longer in the team after his injury at the Giro.
And isolation was a recurring theme throughout this year’s Dauphiné.
While opinions differ on how much can be fixed in two weeks,
De Wolf is cautiously optimistic. “Ilan Van Wilder will be there. I don't
believe in Paret-Peintre. There's something wrong if a Frenchman isn't good in
the Dauphiné,” he said. “Last year I heard about Landa: 'He was there, but he
didn't have to do anything.' That's the point of course: he was there. If you
see your mate, you're already helped.”
That small reassurance can be key in the mountains, and with
Pogacar looking untouchable, the need for strong support is more urgent than
ever.
But some are already rethinking Evenepoel’s role in the
general classification battle. De Wolf believes his natural instincts don’t
lend themselves to waiting in the bunch. “If I were Remco, I would wipe my ass
off the classification,” he said bluntly. “Sorry, but racing like Simon Yates
in the Giro, waiting, waiting, waiting, Remco can’t do that. He has to attack.”
In that spirit, both De Wolf and fellow Belgian legend Johan
Museeuw see a different goal for Evenepoel at this year’s Tour: stage wins, and
perhaps a brief spell in yellow. “And take yellow after the time trial. If you
attack along the way, the rest have to follow anyway. If you’re good enough,
that classification will come automatically,” De Wolf suggested.
Museeuw is less convinced about the team’s chances of
improvement in July. “It won’t get any better in the Tour,” he warned.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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