"I think I rode a near perfect time trial" - Remco Evenepoel ends first racing block of the season with a victory in Romandie

Remco Evenepoel had a few weeks of racing and comes out of his first racing block of 2025 with victories on the first and last days respectively. The Olympic Champion started off brilliantly at Brabantse Pijl, slowly began to struggle in a few races, but this Sunday has conquered the final time-trial of the Tour de Romandie, winning in a course that suited him well.

"It was a specific course. The beginning was quite technical, followed by a long straight towards the climb. I think I rode a near perfect time trial. That's all I could do today. I'm happy to have the victory in my pocket today," Evenepoel said in a post-race interview. He beat João Almeida by 12 seconds and took a victory that was rather comfortable a course that wasn't too long.

"I came here with normal and not too big ambitions. I also knew that I would arrive here with a 'yes or no' form, let's say. That's why I tempered my ambitions a bit. The main focus was on today's stage. Yesterday I just wanted to push myself to the limit and raise the bar. I think I got the most out of it, also today with a good time trial on all aspects".

Evenepoel had a few attacks during the week to test his legs, and on the queen stage he didn't put too much pressure on his shoulders, deciding to stay with his teammate William Junior Lecerf. Still, with his strong time-trial today, he climbed from ninth to fifth in the overall classification.

"I can be happy with how the week went. Also because I'm still looking for good form. I still finished fifth in the final classification, among riders who are in good shape and showed good things yesterday," he continue. "I have to be happy with what I achieved and I'm happy that this Tour de Romandie ends better than the one six years ago".

"I really enjoyed this week. We were really lucky with the weather too. There were nice and warm days and we were lucky today too. They predicted rain from two o'clock, but fortunately it stayed dry. I am also happy that the shoulder felt good. My position was good and stable, so that really motivates me for what is to come," he adds, a very important detail after the brutal training accident he suffered in December.

"It is always nice to win, even before you take a short break. I am now going to recover for a week after the spring and this week in Romandie. That feels good and I think I can go into my rest week with a somewhat calmer head. It motivates me for the rest," he concluded. "All in all, I am very happy with this week, in which I think I have found a better level. If the planning works out well, I will of course return here".