"It's totally different from Kigali": Expert believes Evenepoel can triumph over Pogacar and Vingegaard in Ardeche
Cycling
The 2025 European Championships started for Remco Evenepoel in the same way as the recent World Championships in Kigali: with a convincing triumph in the time trial. In Rwanda, the Belgian overtook Tadej Pogacar to take the world champion's jersey. In France, he did the same by overtaking his 1-minute man Stefan Kung. However in road race he run into a wall named Pogacar, therefore the question is clear: Can Evenepoel turn the tides and double down this Sunday?
Remco Evenepoel finished the World Championship with a silver medal in the road race, won by phenomenal Tadej Pogacar. The Belgian was angry about the circumstances that brought him to the podium result. The 25-year-old had to change bikes multiple times in decisive moments and ultimately lost too much ground to the Slovenian who attacked more than 100 kilometers from the finish line.
At the European Championships he will again be aiming for the gold medal, and nothing else, despite the Slovenian's presence. And this year's Vuelta champion Jonas Vingegaard will also be there in Ardeche to add an extra layer of difficulty. Will the Belgian have learned the lesson of what happened in Kigali?
Expert analyst José De Cauwer, via Sporza, said that Evenepoel is sure to start Sunday with cleaner head than in Kigali: "It's a totally different story. If he stays on the bike and doesn't get off... I think he's learned his lesson. Not to say: a lesson," he began by pointing out about his compatriot.
"And we have to study that route well. It's more like a classic with steep climbs. It's also a shorter race and totally different from what we saw in Kigali, but I would keep Evenepoel in mind, because he's still missing that jersey. And it has to be said: he's a super champion on two wheels, especially in the time trial," he added.
After analyzing Remco Evenepoel's chances at the European Road Championships, De Cauwer also wanted to talk about his historic victory in the time trial: "He is already the ultimate championship rider. It seems very simple, but it's not. You have to take your hat off to him. He makes it look easy, but it's fantastic."
Remco Evenepoel, aiming for the European Road Championships
"He gains almost two seconds per kilometer. That's a lot against the best. Imagine being Filippo Ganna. He wins the world championship twice and thinks he's got it all won. And then someone comes along who is shorter and getting better and better."
The last infinity stone
With a victory in Sunday's road race, Evenepoel would close a very special circle. He would get that "infinity stone" that he is missing to complete a record that is rarely repeated, since the European road race Championships is the only one he has yet to win of the competitions at international level. And he's already been close in 2020 when he lost in a sprint to Sonny Colbrelli.
- Belgian Championships, Time Trial: victories in 2022 and 2025
- Belgian Championships, Road Race: victory in 2023
- European Championships, Time Trial: victories in 2019 and 2025
- European Championships, Road Race: -
- World Championships, Time Trial: victories in 2023, 2024 and 2025
- World Championships, Road Race: victory in 2022
- Olympic Games, Time Trial: victory in 2024
- Olympic Games, Road Race: victory in 2024
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
claps 2visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment