“He wins... and still they don’t fully wish him well” – José De Cauwer calls out relentless backlash towards Remco Evenepoel

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.

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.”

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.

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.