"It's not nice, but it's part of this sport" - Remco Evenepoel's tactics backfire at national championships

Remco Evenepoel was racing and quite emotionally this Sunday at the national championships, showing very strong legs but lacking the difficulties in the course to make the difference. Whilst eventually he did manage to do so in a very tactical race, it happened after the leading group let Tim Wellens get away and the Olympic Champion only came out of the race with a silver medal.

"If you race with your legs like that all day, then you are the big favorite and you have to catch up with the rest", DS Wilfried Peeters told Sporza. "Remco was very strong and wanted to get away on his own as soon as possible. Everyone knew that. He took the rest by the throat, but Wellens was also very good and launched his attack at the right moment."

The team had Tim Merlier to play for a sprint, but with Evenepoel in good form and plenty teams looking to make for an aggressive race, the opportunity was created for Evenepoel to try and become national champion once again. He was part of a strong group that had gone up the road, but from these riders, everyone was eyeing his wheel. And Evenepoel made it no secret that he was on a good day.

"He was very strong and killed his [group] colleagues. Then the rest are not inclined to ride to the finish with you. That's part of it when you're the big favorite. It's not nice, but it's part of this sport. At the front, teammate Ilan Van Wilder fell away just too early and Remco tried his tried and tested recipe, attacking until no one else can. Almost no one could keep up, but Wellens could. And the winner underestimates himself when he says he wasn't the strongest."

Ulimtately Evenepoel managed to escape the clutches of the group with Jasper Philipsen, but the UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider was also on his best legs and managed to hold off the chasing duo to take a big win right before the Tour de France.

Sven Nys also commented on the two protagonists of the day: "Wellens rode a solo of 42 kilometers. Then you are also the best man in the race. Remco had already given a lot, but Tim always had to go with those attacks. It was a bit like the chronicle of an announced situation. The entire leading group then starts to think differently than he does and wants to anticipate."

"Sooner or later one of them will be gone and Remco has to close the gap. He rode away, but Philipsen was also strong. He was probably hanging between his frame at first. Remco then tried to chase at 90 percent and Wellens also benefited from that. But he also forced it himself. Wellens is the deserved champion."