"I can't pinpoint just one thing" - Remco Evenepoel opens up about Tour de France departure and potential problems
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel spent his 2025 season with the Tour de France as the main goal in mind, but that has ended today on stage 14. The Belgian rider, leader of Soudal - Quick-Step, has struggled with the accumulation of climbing and has not been able to reach his best level. As a result, he abandoned the race today after feeling empty right at the start of the Col du Tourmalet.
"Having a bad day once in a while is possible. But three bad days in a row isn't something I normally experience, so it was the best option. It was actually Klaas [Lodewyck] who told me to quit," Evenepoel said in an interview following the stage to the media present at the Soudal - Quick-Step bus, including Wielerflits.
The Olympic Champion dropped early in the day, and with 100 kilometers of high mountain action, he decided not to continue the race after his GC ambitions had fully faded. He does not know what the reason for his physical issues is.
"No idea. I can't say anything about that yet. We'll investigate and see what happens. Everyone knows I've had a terribly bad winter. But we'll all take another look. Maybe there's something wrong with my body. I can't necessarily say anything at this point."
It will be with time that the situation will be better understood, but he throws out several possibilities: "I basically couldn't do any training. I couldn't handle any intensity. Fatigue, my body just not being good enough this year, it could be anything... I can't pinpoint just one thing."
Still, the Tour is not a disaster taking into consideration what he has achieved, and is already trying to look forward. "I won a stage and was in third place for a long time. Up until today, things were looking pretty good, but today it just didn't work out. I could have easily finished in the gruppetto and continued, but who knows, maybe I'll just ingrain my bad feeling and not race in September either."
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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.
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- Love this guy. He is such a pure racer.mij07-11-2026
- Fair enough. Everyone’s entitled to one and I respect yours! Nothing wrong with being a one week and GT guy if that’s his vibemij07-11-2026
- LOL...it's a predetermined finish ! N one is 'clashing' at these exhibition crits!frieders307-11-2026
- Surely the UCI and the race organisers have a responsibility to ensure the best medical care is available to riders when incidents like this happen. All very well pushing for global expansion but not so good if riders lives are put at risk because medical support is not up to scratch.Andy12306-11-2026
- Well it clearly helps that this was Pidcock's own car, no?Occam06-11-2026
- The American performance at the World's road race was a masterclass in cycling tactics. If it wasn't McNulty, it might well have been Jorgensen or Simmons to take off and win in a solo break.Occam06-11-2026
- What a gimmick
Rafionain-Glas06-11-2026 - Thats only cause he rides for UAE. In any other team he would be captain in many races atleast. UAE is just to crazymiguel06-11-2026
- He seems to be the rare athlete whose passion and curiosity about life beyond his sport equals his extraordinary achievements in it. It would be great for him to risk less of that life. He seems very grateful and joyful for what he has already attained.
MarkFour06-11-2026 - As much as I admire and even revere Wout, the less I know about his backside the better.MidnightRider06-11-2026
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