Remco Evenepoel's father hints at future goal after Worlds TT hat-trick in Kigali: "The Hour Record could be another peak to conquer”

Remco Evenepoel’s emphatic ride in Kigali on Sunday secured a third consecutive rainbow jersey in the individual time trial and underlined his dominance against the clock. The 25-year-old Belgian delivered a near-flawless performance, catching Tadej Pogacar despite the Slovenian starting two and a half minutes earlier, and leaving the rest of the field in his wake.

Patrick Evenepoel, speaking to Sudinfo after the race, suggested that his son’s extraordinary time trial ability could naturally extend to another, more unconventional challenge: the Hour Record.

“Perhaps, yes. We haven’t spoken about it directly yet, but I think it could interest him one day. It’s exactly the kind of challenge that should attract him,” he said. “He knows it’s another discipline, but he has the specific qualities to succeed. The time trial remains his speciality, and if he is already targeting a fourth world title in the event, then the Hour Record could be another peak to conquer.”

The Hour Record remains cycling’s ultimate test of sustained power and pacing. Since October 2022, it has been held by Filippo Ganna, who covered 56.792 kilometres. The record’s storied past reads like a who’s who of cycling greats: Fausto Coppi (1942), Jacques Anquetil (1956), Miguel Indurain (1994), and Bradley Wiggins (2015) have all held the mark, with Eddy Merckx’s legendary 1972 ride standing as one of the sport’s most iconic feats.

Merckx has already speculated that a potential showdown between Evenepoel and Pogacar on the track would be a spectacle. “The Slovenian is the best, the most complete rider. And Remco has incredible aerodynamics. It would be wonderful if they dared to take on that challenge,” he said earlier this summer.

For now, Evenepoel’s focus remains on the upcoming road race in Kigali, where he will once again line up as one of the favourites. But with his father publicly hinting at the Hour Record, the suggestion of future ambitions adds a tantalising dimension to a career already defined by speed, power, and record-breaking potential.