“I think I was clear in my Instagram post" - Remco Evenepoel shares aftermath of public spat with Belgian journalist

Remco Evenepoel has returned to racing only less than two weeks ago but has since been in the spotlight constantly. From his Brabantse Pijl victory, Amstel Gold Race bad luck, fallout in the final Ardennes classics and now a public spat with Belgian journalist Ruben van Gucht. The Olympic Champion shared that he later received a message from van Gucht, and what was not in it.

In Belgian media there has been lots of talking about Evenepoel, specially since his statements regarding religion and Islam, which he now practices. The abuse the Evenepoel family has been undergoing has even led his father Patrick to consider legal action. It is a chaotic situation, but it got even more when van Gucht, one of the most well known pundits in the country, talked about Evenepoel's family and how he could be financing his wife Oumi Rayanne's family. Such comments led to a long Instagram post from the Soudal - Quick-Step rider.

He ended the public message writing "certainly not people who prefer to call themselves journalists, but prefer to spread nonsense. Maybe you should worry more about your own family, Ruben… Because we hear things too". Afterwards, Evenepoel reveals that he has received an audio message from the journalist himself.

And at the Tour de Romandie, where he took to the start yesterday, he was asked about the situation. “I think I was clear in my Instagram post. He did indeed send me an audio message, but without an apology. That is a bit strange. We will see what comes of it," Evenepoel told Het Nieuwsblad.

The situation is certainly not closed, but Evenepoel is looking to move on from the unusual situation he found himself in. "I have to move on. Hopefully it won't have a sequel. The evening itself was a mess in my head, but after a short conversation with Klaas (DS Lodewyck, ed.) I was able to put it aside."