“Remco puts too much pressure on himself to be better in the mountains” - Spanish legend urges Evenepoel to stop trying to follow Pogacar and Vingegaard
Cycling
The defining question around Remco Evenepoel is no longer whether he belongs at the very top of the sport, but how he races when faced directly with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard in the mountains.
Ahead of the Ardennes and with the Tour de France looming, that tension has sharpened once again, this time through the lens of a former winner who sees both the potential and the limitation.
Speaking during the Volta a Catalunya, Pedro Delgado offered a pointed assessment of Evenepoel’s approach in the high mountains, focusing less on physical ability and more on the decisions that follow when he finds himself alongside Pogacar and Vingegaard, in quotes collected by RTBF.
“Evenepoel has a big engine, but the problem, unfortunately for him, is the mountains. His build does not really make him a climber. It’s a shame, because with his potential and his character, he can do great things, but if he has Vingegaard and Pogacar in front of him, everything becomes difficult.”
Pressure versus instinct
The observation is not new, but Delgado’s reasoning adds a sharper edge. The issue, in his view, is not simply that Evenepoel is weaker on long climbs, but that he tries to compensate for that gap in a way that ultimately works against him.
“I like Evenepoel’s character, he reminds me of Bernard Hinault. Very strong mentally, but I think he puts too much pressure on himself to be even better in the mountains. If I can give him one piece of advice, it’s to climb at his own pace, like in a time trial. He should not try to follow Vingegaard and Pogacar, otherwise he risks blowing up.”
That tension between ambition and restraint sits at the heart of Evenepoel’s current evolution. The Belgian has built his reputation on racing on the front foot, trusting his engine and committing fully when he senses an opportunity. It is the same instinct that has brought success in time trials and one day races, but in the high mountains against the most complete climbers in the sport, the margins are far less forgiving.
Delgado’s point is therefore as much tactical as it is physiological. Matching accelerations from riders like Pogacar and Vingegaard is not simply a question of strength, but of timing and energy management across repeated efforts. In that context, riding to one’s own limit rather than reacting to others becomes a necessity rather than a choice.
“It's complicated, because with his character, he wants to be with the two champions. In Spanish, we say you have to keep a cool head in those moments. To follow or not to follow, that is the question.”
Classics strength versus Tour ambition
The timing of those comments is significant. Evenepoel’s immediate focus turns toward Liège–Bastogne–Liège, a race that has already suited his strengths and one where his aggressive style can be fully expressed without the same sustained climbing pressure seen in Grand Tours.
Yet the wider picture remains unchanged. The Belgian is still set to take on Pogacar and Vingegaard at the Tour de France, stepping into a direct confrontation that will inevitably be decided in the mountains Delgado highlights.
That dual ambition underlines the balancing act in front of him. One day races offer a terrain where his qualities can be decisive, while the Tour demands a different kind of control, one that may require a shift away from instinctive racing toward a more measured approach.
Delgado’s analysis does not close the door on Evenepoel’s chances. If anything, it reinforces the idea that the gap is not purely physical, but conditional on how he chooses to race when the defining moments arrive. Against the sport’s two dominant climbers, the difference may not be whether he can follow, but whether he should.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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