"If he goes for the doctor's note now too..." - Patrick Lefevere backs up Remco Evenepoel's nationals absence

As expected, Remco Evenepoel is absent from the Belgian national championships this weekend. Despite the race being mandatory for the healthy riders from the European nation, it is a grey area in which it is widely known behind the scenes that riders manage to obtain medical documentation in order to show they are not fully healthy and thus be allowed to skip the race without being suspended. Patrick Lefevere has commented on this matter and defended his former rider.

For several days this had been a hot topic in Belgium. The federation continues to make it mandatory to participate in the race, something many do not desire - specially in a year such as this, where the flat profile does not provide an opportunity for many riders. Evenepoel's absence was expected as he is preparing for the Tour de France and went as far from removing his previous race from his schedule, only the 'when' was to come. This Saturday the news were confirmed.

“Every year at the Belgian Cycling Championships, we get the same role-playing: riders who suddenly fall ill or suddenly feel a slight overload and therefore have to withdraw 'with a heavy heart'. A week later, they start the Tour de France fit and cheerful," Lefevere said in his weekly Het Nieuwsblad column.

As a former manager of a Belgian team, he knows the process like the back of his hand. It is no taboo that riders also have their way of avoiding being in the race, although naturally they are not the ones to say it out loud. Lefevere is no longer part of Quick-Step's management and says it like he sees it,

"The doctor's notes come in to the Belgian federation, and they just have to take it all in their stride. Someone probably has to reply 'get well soon' as well," he jokes.

Last year Evenepoel took part in the race, did not manage to win it and suffered a crash that led to a fractured rib. Logic would dictate he had no reason to be at the start of the race this Sunday, where Jordi Meeus will hunt the title for the team.

"He naturally thinks 'no way am I going to jeopardize my Tour in Brasschaat with zero elevation gain. I saw Remco Evenepoel win the flat Belgian Championship in Izegem and even the Gullegem Kermesse, but if he goes for the doctor's note now too, I fully understand," Lefevere argues.

It is common for the best in the world to skip their own nationals', however Lefevere does assure it is not a matter of the event, but its timing. Every year, it takes place in the weeks leading up to the Tour de France for most top riders, forcing them to decide between the national or preparing ideally for the Grand Boucle.

"Every rider worth his money wants to have worn it at some point. Without the Tour, Remco Evenepoel is always at the start."

“The Belgian Championship is somewhat of an anachronism in today’s cycling. Teams of three against teams of twenty-three, somewhere around a church tower or town hall. It gets in the way of altitude training camps, and team sponsors aren’t exactly keen on a jersey where the national flag obstructs their own logo," he points out. "But I don’t join those who think the Belgian jersey means nothing anymore."