"I really believed this was a course for Pogacar" - Even Remco Evenepoel's coach wasn't sure of TT victory

Remco Evenepoel stormed to victory at the time-trial World Championships this Sunday and Tadej Pogacar saw himself beaten by two Belgians. Belgian national coach Serge Pauwels was very surprised with his riders, but also very surprised to see how the Slovenian failed in a course that looked perfect to him.

"We weren't surprised at the first intermediate point, because we had already clocked a point beforehand. We had the impression he'd started cautiously, but at the foot of the climb he had 15 and at the top he was already 45," Pauwels explained in a post-race interview with Sporza in Kigali. 

"That was very encouraging, because you knew that pacing would be important and that the focus was on the second half. But everything continued to look very good. You also notice that he gains confidence when he hears those times." As the race went by there was not one moment of difficulty from Evenepoel, who continued gaining time on Pogacar and increased it even further - even overtaking him on the final cobbled climb.

Pauwels, despite knowing the quality of his rider, wasn't expecting anything such as this: "No, not that. I said on Saturday that it would be 50/50, because I really believed this was a course for Pogacar. We might now get an explanation for his off day, or maybe he won't say it. But I thought they would be evenly matched. But there wasn't even a duel."

Evenepoel has in the past won the road race World Championships, but by no means did yesterday's ride make him the man to beat for the 267-kilometer long race next weekend. "We're ready for that. It's not that we're relaxed now because we won," Pauwels assures.

"We have a very strong team for Sunday and a good plan that has already been discussed to some extent. This gives us confidence. Or hope, at least. Pogacar will be eager for revenge, but we've also gained confidence."

Pauwels was also asked about Ilan van Wilder, who went on to beat Pogacar by 1 second to make it to the podium. "In January, I spoke with Ilan in Calpe and told him he would ride this World Championship time trial".

"I believed this course was perfect for him. I know he performs well at altitude, and if you can give a guy like that confidence, he'll excel," he concluded.