Remco Evenepoel’s mechanic recalls Olympics puncture: “Run as fast as you can”

Back at the Olympics in Paris in August, Remco Evenepoel made history by becoming the first male cyclist to win gold in both the time trial and road race at the same games. It was a historic achievement, solidifying his place as one of the top cyclists in the world.

In the road race, Evenepoel displayed his dominance, blowing the field away as he soloed towards victory. However, the race took a dramatic turn with just 3.8km to go when Evenepoel suffered a puncture, putting his gold medal hopes in jeopardy. What could have been a disastrous moment was quickly salvaged thanks to the lightning-fast reactions of his mechanic, Kurt Roose.

Roose, reflecting on the near miss at the Crystal Bicycle Gala, spoke about the emotional whirlwind of that day. "A very special feeling. The hair on my arms stands on end. A fantastic moment. Although I have to admit that now, here on the couch, I am actually more nervous than then."

One of the biggest challenges during the road race was the ban on earphones, making communication between the team and the rider much more difficult. Roose explained, "That actually caused a hectic day," adding that the ban disrupted the usual communication channels. "Otherwise, you would be in the car with two team leaders, now only Sven and I were in tune with each other."

Recalling the dramatic puncture, Roose described the moment vividly: "The moment he rides through that bend, I hear Sven shout: 'a bike, he's got a flat!’ Then you just take that bike off the rack and run as fast as you can."

Despite the pressure of the moment, Roose’s experience and calm under fire proved invaluable. “Luckily, I have some experience with bike swaps by now. It’s actually a daily job for me,” he remarked.

In the end, it was a legendary near miss. Thanks to Roose's quick reactions, Evenepoel was able to recover swiftly and continue his path to victory, making history in the process.

Even with the unexpected puncture, the Soudal-Quick Step rider cemented his place in Olympic history with his double gold medal triumph. And for Kurt Roose, it was a day filled with pride, nerves, and ultimately, the satisfaction of helping Evenepoel achieve greatness.