“Now I’ll try to become world champion” – Remco Evenepoel turns focus to Rainbow Jersey after record-breaking fourth Clasica San Sebastian win
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel set his sights on becoming world champion after claiming a record-breaking fourth victory at the Clasica San Sebastian. The Belgian beat Richard Carapaz in a two-man sprint to preserve his perfect record at the Basque WorldTour Classic, adding to his wins from 2019, 2022 and 2023.
That moved Evenepoel beyond Marino Lejarreta as the most successful rider in the history of the race, although a puncture with around 50 kilometres remaining placed the latest victory in serious danger. “This was the hardest of all four victories,” Evenepoel told the media after the finish. “After the descent with 50 kilometres remaining, I suffered a puncture.”
Evenepoel later told teammates that glass on the road had caused the puncture. He was left around 30 seconds behind shortly before Erlaitz and had to chase as the race split on the steep climb.
“I had to remain patient,” he said. “Thanks to my teammates for bringing me back towards the front. I still had to finish off their brilliant work. What a day. A wonderful victory.”
Evenepoel recovers before beating Carapaz
Evenepoel regained contact after chasing through the convoy, but was distanced again when defending champion Giulio Ciccone forced the pace on Erlaitz. He eventually returned to the reduced front group before Maxim Van Gils took control for Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe on the approach to Murgil Tontorra.
Van Gils drove the pace on the final climb before Evenepoel accelerated, with Carapaz the only rider able to follow. The pair held off Ciccone and Louis Barre over the summit and increased their advantage on the descent into San Sebastian. Carapaz led through the closing metres before Evenepoel launched from his wheel and won comfortably.
“I’m happy that I was able to beat a strong Carapaz,” Evenepoel said. “He followed well. I produced a strong sprint and, as soon as I launched, I quickly felt that I was going to win. I had a good day. The situation was just a little tricky because of the puncture, but the victory is the most important thing.”
World Championship next for Evenepoel
The win came six days after Evenepoel finished second overall at the Tour de France behind Tadej Pogacar. He also won two stages during the race, including the summit finish at Plateau de Solaison and the Stage 16 individual time trial.
Evenepoel will now recover before beginning the next phase of his season, with another Rainbow Jersey already in his sights. “Now I’ll have some recovery and rest,” he said. “Then I’ll build up again and I want to become world champion.”
Evenepoel won the elite men’s road race world title in 2022 and followed it with the individual time trial title in 2023. His San Sebastian victory was his fourth from four appearances at the race.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 8visitors 4
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I have no sympathy for Ayuso or the situations he gets himself into. He was a traitor in the UAE team, he hated Pogi and never wanted to work for him. He always had excuses why he couldn't perform. No riders in the team liked his character and did not approve the kind of person he was on a deep, moral, or personal level. I just don't care about him. Ad acta.PogiSloFans11-11-2026
- Great response! I love the article also. Interesting to see which "Legends" will be covered. There are a few out there :-)
DareDevil11-11-2026 - This is one of the reasons why Ineos is failing, G can comment on his pod but why has he not attracted talent from the peloton to Ineos. He has lot of inside track. Also ratcliffe handling of Man United is also disastrous.abstractengineer11-11-2026
- Theirs a few on the team who may be able to step up/progress to Grand Tour wins but that'll come, not in '27 tho 🤷 - Roglic mayve appealed on a 2 yr for immediate results but other riders would be set aside and the existing riders wouldn't like that
leedorney11-11-2026 - Hey @santiagobenites, that's why @leedorney is wrong. He doesn't see the bigger picture.PogiSloFans11-11-2026
- the rot started in 2022 with Bernal's accident Signings- Just super helpers and non winners. Foss GC Leaders - Reliance on injured Bernal and retiring G Talents - On domestique duty dont learn how to win. Sprinters - No top Sprinter signed Tactics- Outdated Save the leader, trains. Just money badly spent even though there were opportunitiesabstractengineer11-11-2026
- Whole team is a mess. They don't have any really top tier "podium lock" GT riders, and they don't really have a solid classics block. Just a bunch of spare parts. I don't know why any rider would go for them either. Feels like old mate with the money is likely to pull out at any given moment, and that doesn't bode well for their ability to jack up their budget and say "let's buy half a dozen shit-hot talents to ride support/lead our team" - which is what they probably need to do to get competitive again.wrsty11-11-2026
- Pogi is a Goat. He has power numbers that are once in a century. Jonas is a once in a generation, He has power numbers 1 level lower than Pogi. Even if both are equal which they were before 2024, Pogi would have won on sprint bonuses. For Jonas to win he has to crack Pogi, which is impossible. Therefore Giro is a good option considering the TT in TDF. He cannot win but if something happens to Pogi , he should be still in a position to win the TDF, Giro or no Giro, because the others are a level below him.abstractengineer11-11-2026
- for what?frieders311-11-2026
- Blah blah blah!frieders311-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment