"Sh*t roads" - Remco Evenepoel blasts Olympic Games organizers over issues in time-trial route
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel is a rider who does not hold back when it's time to share some unpleasant truths. That makes him, to many, quite popular, and today he has launched a bullet at the Olympic Games organizers.
"I spent most of Monday in bed, Tuesday I cycled a bit, but that didn't feel great. Just like Wednesday and Thursday", Evenepoel told Sporza at a press conference. "I have to wait and see how Saturday goes. It has been a demanding final week in the Tour. Recovering is not easy, but I still have 2 days. We'll see if it will be enough. In any case, I came out of the Tour full of confidence and that already gives me a mental advantage."
The past few weeks could've hardly gone any better for the Belgian who made his debut at the Tour de France and came out of it with a stage win, a podium and his best ever Grand Tour performance where he was even at a similar level to that of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. "That's right, but maybe we can use our bigger engine that you have after a Grand Tour. . The course is not too technical and that plays into our hands. Then you can use your endurance more."
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"We can count ourselves lucky that we can take that extra gear and that the course is not too technical. I come out of the Tour with a good feeling that it doesn't scare me... I always aim for the highest, but I know I might not be 100 percent. If I'm beaten purely on my values, then I won't complain."
Remco Evenepoel explored the time-trial route on Wednesday together with Wout van Aert and has quite sharp with his feedback: "Shit roads. It's not pleasant. The road surface is bad. That can be a problem if you have black spots in front of your eyes in the final. For the rest it's mainly straight and fast. Also nice for sightseeing."
However not all his bad for his chances of taking gold. Whilst pan-flat roads should on paper favour more the heavier rivals Filippo Ganna and Joshua Tarling, the reigning World Champion does believe it's harder than what the profile seems to indicate. "On paper it looks super flat, but it's constantly a false flat. It's going to hurt. Cadence, big plate and keeping my position: that's going to be important for me."
Profile of the Olympic Games time-trial
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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Weekiwachee26-07-20247
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- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- 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
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Remco Evenepoel already checking the Paris Olympics ITT route 🇫🇷 Look at that bike 👀 📷: Nieuwsblad
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