Remco Evenepoel showed himself strongly at Paris-Nice 2024, looking to attack throughout, the Belgian finished second overall and took victory on the final stage. Could he have done even more though?
Well, for renowned Belgian cycling analyst Michel Wuyts, Evenepoel was clearly the strongest rider in the race and as such will be disappointed not to have claimed overall victory. “Over all days, Evenepoel was the best man," Wuyts says on the HLN podcast, 'Wuyts & Vlaeminck'. “Given the line-up and Primoz Roglic's relative weakness, he misses a great opportunity to win Paris-Nice. Someone with the status of Remco Evenepoel should have won this Paris-Nice.”
"Evenepoel also engages in drawing criticism," Wuyts continued. "He says about himself that he did well and that he can build on the Paris-Nice performance towards the Itzulia Basque Country and the Tour de France. I don't think Paris-Nice has much to do with the Tour de France."
Ex-pro Jan Bakelants was also on the show and shared a similar view of Evenepoel's performances at the 'Race to the Sun'. “In all honesty, more could be expected from Evenepoel. I am convinced that he himself expected more. This year the focus is on the Tour. And then you either hope not to win and learn an important lesson in Paris-Nice or you hope to win," Bakelants analyses. "But he didn't learn anything last week. And he didn't win."
"Of the three important stage races he will ride this year, this was the first. It was undoubtedly also the easiest race to win. Especially when you look at the opponents. Evenepoel was full of praise for his teammates. But I still saw that his teammates were not there at crucial moments," Bakelants concludes critically. "And why does Soudal-Quickstep transfer Mikel Landa if you don't take him with you to Paris-Nice? I really wonder about the way they manage everything in that team.”
Leaving @ParisNice in style!📞🔥🫡 This is why I love racing, going all-in🫶🏻🚀 2nd in the GC, a stage win, the KOM and points jersey🥈⚪️🔴🟢 Can't thank my team enough for the incredible work they do every day after day🐺💙 Congrats to Matteo on a strong week and the yellow👏🏻
