"I was impressed by the intensity with which he was training" - Monument winner blown away by Remco Evenepoel after spotting him training
CyclingSunday, 06 September 2026 at 10:46
Remco Evenepoel is considered the favourite by many to take the mantle in Tadej Pogacar's absence for the rest of the season. Training at high altitude following his Clasica San Sebastian victory and Tour de France second place, the Belgian is lined up for an end-of-season tilt at glory.
Following Pogacar's Vuelta crash, the dynamics of the final big races of the season have taken a drastic turn, propelling the Red Bull - BORA Hansgrohe leader into the position of favourite. Training in Livigno, he's certainly hoping to live up to the billing.
His tailored and to the last millimetre appraoch to July's Tour paid dividends as he took second place and two stage wins, emerging as the definitve next-best to Pogacar in France.
But now, three weeks away from the Montreal World Championships, Evenepoel has once again enjoyed a window of quiet training and preparation. But when Sonny Colbrelli, winner of the 2021 Paris Roubaix, crossed paths with him in Italy's Livigno region, things were far from quiet.
Evenepoel's altitude training camp
On Tuesday, his ride has caught the attention of many, featuring 5300 meters of climbing in just 181 kilometers. Evenepoel climbed up the Passo del Mortirolo, Passo di Gavia and Mottolino.
The now-retired sprinter noted the support of mechanics and staff around the Belgian was one thing, but it was the intensity of the effort Evenepoel was in the midst of that struck Colbrelli.
"The other day I was in Livigno with my kids for a few days' vacation, and at a certain point I saw Remco Evenepoel whizz past me with his entire team of mechanics and trainers in tow," Solbrelli told Bicisport.
"I was impressed by the intensity with which he was training and how he was approaching his high-altitude training in preparation for the World Championships."
Remco Evenepoel at Clasica San Sebastian 2026
Evenepoel favourite for big races
Evenepoel used Livigno as his base this time last year, finding a high level of form in the end-of-season races that saw him also finish clear second place behind Pogacar at the World Championships, European Championships and Il Lombardia.
This time around, if he can find that level of form above the rest, he could make it a triple header of victories as his schedule includes Worlds, Europeans and Il Lombardia - adding to his time trial World Championships defence.
First, however, he takes a similar pre-World Championships warm up to many as he will race the Canadian WorldTour races in both Quebec and Montreal on September 11th and 13th.
The one-day classics are usually well attended, but add an extra benefit this year given the World Championships take place in Montreal two weeks later - serving as a natural base for those lining up a rainbow jersey tilt.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Topped 45.7 In the area yesterday. Makes the TdF discussion feel arctic.Jumpyjohn06-09-2026
- his comment was different on other sites, it could be the translation used here. it made more sense elsewheremij06-09-2026
- I thought you were gone! Guess not!frieders306-09-2026
- You don’t be missed! Bye bye !frieders306-09-2026
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- Good to see uae out the picture, we just need bahrain to move right off the leaderboard.
Andrew05-09-2026
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