Romain Bardet details friendship with Remco Evenepoel: "I am happy that he is also riding the Dauphiné, which will be my last race"

As we enter the second half of 2020s, one chapter in the history of cycling seems to be closing with all the protagonists of last decade retiring one after another. Among them is Romain Bardet, runner-up at the 2016 Tour de France, for whom the Critérium du Dauphiné in less than month will be the final race of the Frenchman's career.

While his greatest battles were fought against the likes of Chris Froome (also considering retirement at the end of this season), Nairo Quintana and compatriot Thibaut Pinot (retired at the end of 2023), he also witnessed the rise of new generation. Among the so-called "aliens" he appears to have build a nice connection with Remco Evenepoel who even gifted his jersey to Bardet's son during the 2023 Vuelta a Espana.

"He still wears it," Bardet tells Het Nieuwsblad. "In the meantime, he also got a white jersey from Remco, after last year's Tour. I have a good relationship with Remco. I think I've experienced on a small scale what he goes through with all the pressure and expectations from people."

But above all, Bardet is pleased with Evenepoel as a person. "What I like about Remco is that he is himself. I have talked to every 'big name' in the peloton over the years. With some you notice that there is little interest. Remco was just open and normal. I am happy that he is also riding the Dauphiné, which will be my last race."

Bardet also has good contact with other Belgians, including Cian Uijtdebroeks. "I have been following Cian since he won the Tour de l'Avenir. I recognize my younger self in him. He is more talented, but like me he is someone who is rather quiet and wants to do everything as well as possible. So I sometimes give him a bit of advice. Or I help him at a critical moment. I once pushed him so that he was in an echelon, haha."