Remco calling! Belgian junior champion called by Remco Evenepoel: “He even waited to go to training so he could call”
Cycling
It was a moment to remember for 18-year-old Mathias De
Keersmaeker on Sunday. After powering to victory in the Belgian Junior Men’s
Championship, the young sprinter received a congratulatory phone call from none
other than Remco Evenepoel, the national superstar, double Olympic champion and
world champion.
De Keersmaeker, who rides for the R.EV Brussels Cycling
Academy, crossed the line first in a mass sprint to take the junior national
title. His team is closely linked to Evenepoel, who helped establish the
academy and remains deeply involved in its operation.
“Remco is always very closely involved. He always knows the
results very quickly,” De Keersmaeker told RTV after his win. That involvement
was clear as soon as the race ended, with the teenager’s phone ringing almost
immediately.
Evenepoel, who is currently preparing for the Critérium du
Dauphiné, made time to personally congratulate the rising star. According to De
Keersmaeker, the call was no accident.
“He had even waited especially to go to training so he could
call if we would win. Patrick (Patrick Evenepoel) said that Remco had predicted
it. That's why he had waited. That was cool.”
Evenepoel’s thoughtful gesture came just days before one of
the biggest races of the season. The Critérium du Dauphiné, which begins this
weekend, will feature all three of last year’s Tour de France superstars, Tadej
Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Evenepoel himself, lining up together for the
first time in 2025.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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- big rival … ridiculous.Ketterechts07-11-2026
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MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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