Remco Evenepoel's parents "super proud" following golden start to 2024 Paris Olympics: "I love him. That takes precedence over all achievements"

For Remco Evenepoel, the last few weeks have been very successful. After securing a podium finish on his Tour de France debut, the Belgian superstar has now backed that up by adding an Olympic gold to his ever growing palmares in the time trial at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Watching the action closely, were both of the Soudal - Quick-Step leader's parent, Anja and Patrick Evenepoel. "It's especially my son, I think of all the moments he has to go through," says mum Anja in quotes collected afterwards by Het Nieuwsblad. "I'm especially super proud of what he achieved after that Tour, where he had to deal with that outside pressure for three weeks."

"That's the thing I always keep thinking about, that he's not going to crash mentally after all. But I know he has the right people around him and we are in constant contact with them. That's reassuring," Evenepoel's mother continues, revealing it's been more than five weeks since she saw her son properly. "That's also normal, he doesn't live with us anymore either. We have to miss him a lot, but we have him on the line daily. He answers every message immediately. He needs that, I can feel it. He is still my son and I love him. That takes precedence over all achievements."

Evenepoel was joined on the final podium of the time trial by compatriot Wout van Aert, who secured the bronze medal and it's with the family of Van Aert that Patrick Evenepoel has his initial thoughts. "This feels very good and I think Wout's parents are also going to feel very good," he says. "They are with two Belgians on the podium, which is just the max."

"We haven't heard or seen Remco yet, so are waiting for him here as well. What I'm going to say? Chapeau. After that Tour, how he handled the race... But the same goes for Wout, because he's also coming off the Tour," continues Evenepoel senior. "Everyone had their doubts about that because Joshua Tarling and Filippo Ganna had trained very specifically, but I'm just as satisfied for Wout's bronze as for Remco's gold."

Whilst Evenepoel was indeed one of the pre-race favourites, given he is the world champion in the discipline, his father was far from totally confident. "Absolutely not, you can't say that. Of course we also saw the intermediate times. And once he's ahead, it's hard to overtake him. Then the main thing was to stay upright," he concludes. "Olympic gold medal... If you ask in the US who is world cycling champion, nobody knows. But who took gold at the Games, they do know. That actually says enough."