"Is Remco still angry? No, that's over in a few minutes" - Patrick Lefevere critic but understanding of Vuelta a Espana TTT drama
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel finished the opening team time-trial of the Vuelta a Espana with a strong result but was very unhappy at the finish. However Patrick Lefevere reveals that the initial burst of emotion wore off shortly after.
“We are used to that in cycling, so we are an amazing sport, aren't we. Of course, the organization cannot control the weather conditions," Lefevere told Het Nieuwsblad. "We arrived here when it was 40 degrees and much too hot and suddenly it changes completely and we are here with situations that are reminiscent of a bad movie. No one could change the weather, but the stage could have started an hour earlier. If you see those photos that they arrive in the dark, that says enough.”
The unexpected change of weather in Barcelona was very dramatic and saw pouring rain and a dark sky in the peak of summer. Not only was there a lot of criticism - not to speak of mishaps and crashes from riders - but today the situation has not improved at all and the stage finale has been neutralized when it comes to the overall classification.
“For us it was a pity that the riders had to ride in the dark. They also sometimes did not know whether to ride on the left or right," Lefevere explains. "Is Remco still angry? No, that's over in a few minutes. That's that adrenaline after the finish, but I saw him on the team bus and then he was already laughing again."
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Choose your warrior! #LaVuelta23 Photo: @BeelWout
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