"Memories that stay burned into your mind" - Patrick Evenepoel moved to tears as Remco dedicates Brabantse Pijl win to late friend after tragic passing

Remco Evenepoel's triumphant return to the peloton on Sunday afternoon at Brabantse Pijl was an incredibly moving victory for many cycling fans. For the Soudal - Quick-Step leader's father however, the win had an extra touch of emotion thanks to Evenepoel dedicating the success to the late Pascal Vanherberghen after his tragic passing. 

Vanherberghen had been a long-time friend of the Evenepoel family, spending considerable time alongside Patrick Evenepoel over the years, supporting from the roadside and more. At the line following Brabantse Pijl, the family of Vanherberghen were present, with Remco heading straight over to them following his win, telling the son of his father's much-missed friend: “This is for your dad,” in a touching moment, before then also handing the flowers he was awarded on the final podium to Vanherberghen's wife.

“We’ve been through everything together. What does this do to me? A lot. (emotionally) Everything, really," reflected an emotional Patrick Evenepoel in conversation with Sporza from the finish line. "It was the first race without Pascal, and then Remco wins.”

Speaking more about the relationship he shared with Vanherberghen, Evenepoel senior recalls a warm anecdote from their friendship. “We’ve been through everything together. Pascal was in Lombardy with me and Joeri — we spent three days sitting on a bench in the hospital reception after Remco’s crash into that ravine," he recalls warmly. "Those are memories that stay burned into your mind.”