“He wins... and still they don’t fully wish him well” – José De Cauwer calls out relentless backlash towards Remco Evenepoel
Cycling
A dominant victory at the Amstel Gold Race should have settled the debate. Instead, the reaction around Remco Evenepoel has once again shifted the focus away from the road and onto the criticism that continues to follow him regardless of the outcome.
Evenepoel delivered a controlled and calculated performance in Limburg, timing his effort perfectly in a reduced finale to take the win. It was a ride built on patience and positioning, closely matching the tactical scenario he had outlined before the start. Yet in the aftermath, the discussion quickly moved beyond the result.
De Cauwer questions reaction to Evenepoel success
Speaking on Sporza, Jose De Cauwer made clear his confusion at the reaction that often surrounds Evenepoel, even when he wins. “Evenepoel wins and then you still get a movement of people who don’t fully wish him well,” he said. “I really don’t understand it.”
His remarks reflect a wider pattern that has followed Evenepoel throughout his career. Whether he attacks, waits, wins or loses, the response from parts of the fanbase remains divided.
De Cauwer linked that reaction to a broader issue within cycling culture, drawing a comparison that highlights the contrast in how riders are perceived. “I really don’t understand it. Just like I sometimes don’t understand how far the adoration for Wout van Aert goes,” he added. “Don’t get me wrong, I wish a lot of people well, but some people are against someone. I really don’t understand that.”
A victory built on control and timing
On the road, there was little room for interpretation. The race developed into a tactical contest shaped by hesitation and late selection, with no single rider forcing the issue early.
Evenepoel stayed patient, held his position and delivered his effort at the decisive moment on the run in after the Cauberg. In a race that rewarded timing rather than brute force, his execution proved decisive.
For De Cauwer, that is where the disconnect lies. The performance is clear, but the reaction is not. “You can support someone, but not be against someone. Based on what? That rider hasn’t done anything to you,” he said.
It is a message directed at the tone of the criticism rather than the criticism itself, and it underlines the extent to which Evenepoel remains a polarising figure despite his results.
Remco Evenepoel ahead of Amstel Gold Race 2026
Focus shifts to the Ardennes ahead
Attention now turns to the remainder of the Ardennes Classics, where different demands will shape the racing. “Liege-Bastogne-Liege will be a different story with this team,” De Cauwer said. “They will need different riders. I’m thinking of climbers, and they will come, surely?”
Evenepoel has delivered on the road. The reaction to it, however, continues to tell a different story.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- Schreiber won. UCI please admit your fault and correct result.averagecyclist10-11-2026
- She deviated from her line - end of
leedorney10-11-2026 - If I was Lucinda Brand, I'd refuse to wear the jersey. Is there a rule that she "has to" wear it, as the winner? It would certainly feel like stolen valor.wrsty10-11-2026
- but don't let your socks be too long or handlebars be a cm too narrow.mij10-11-2026
- Saw a casual interview with Geraint Thomas and him a few years ago. Seems like a nice laid guy and I wish him well.GregT10-11-2026
- Ernesto Maggioni - The president of the commissaires Mafia. It is getting evident that this guy is basically "Iamalwaysrightandyouarestupidsoiwontlistentoyou" kind of guy. So fire him so that he can be always right in his homeabstractengineer10-11-2026
- Somehow it has got into his mind that he is a GC rider. He is primarily a classics and stage rider who can perform on GC given his day. As a result he is wasting his time on TDF GC and once committed to GC you are too tired to do anything else.abstractengineer10-11-2026
- 🐐❤️Lozza09-11-2026
- This is such a black eye to women's professional cyclocross if this result remains. Marie Schreiber won this race fairly. This finish is not unlike others in cyclocross. Lots of moving around to get to the finish not to cut anyone off , but to generate a sprint on soft wide tires caked with mud and sand. This is not nearly the same as a road race between two riders sprinting to the finish on faster bikes and thinner firmer tires. The powers in charge need to use some common sense, reverse this result and remember this is Cyclocross not Road racing. Unbelievable. . .Zencycle09-11-2026
- Tis beyond your comprehension fine sir so best not to look on with blind eyes to THE GOATS greatness.
Brucegel09-11-2026
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