"Sh*t roads" - Remco Evenepoel blasts Olympic Games organizers over issues in time-trial route
CyclingFriday, 26 July 2024 at 11:09
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."
Race to Victory in the Fantasy
Olympics Cycling Men Time Trial – Over $2170/€2,000/£1,685 in Prizes Up for
Grabs!
"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
Read also
claps 6visitors 5
Just in
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!
May 12, 11:09
0
Popular news
Latest comments
- Would love to see him pull it off. Seems like a thoroughly decent guy.mobk24-05-2025
- Shame that, lads a natural, he'll have his time!
leedorney24-05-2025 - Whaaa? What’s the problem with mvdp? He’s just as classyCrashjames24-05-2025
- WvA says it right as always, great guy better then MvdP anyhow 👍leedorney24-05-2025
- I just finished watching his post stage interview, the more I see of him the more I like him, he showed empathy towards Ayuso which is a sign he has great character. I know he can climb, I don't know if he can climb like the rest of the gc challengers but I'm pulling for him!awp24-05-2025
- He won every jersey in the 2023 Tour de l'Avenir. He won stage 6, a HC finish 23.2Km @ an average of 7.4%. He was 3rd in the stage 7 mountain time trial. If he gets the okay, I think he might be able to win this race.awp24-05-2025
- Yes, Remco may not have won as many Gt's but he is a much more well rounded cyclist than Froome was at his best. I'm also not disrespecting Froome, he is a legend but he won only one type of race.awp24-05-2025
- And there it is, hopefully Isaac del Toro can win the whole thing at 21.awp24-05-2025
- Maybe you are overrating GT GC?Mistermaumau24-05-2025
- No, but now he’s started considering it at least. Maybe they were smart enough to propose a family holiday so he couldn’t use not wanting to be separated as an excuse? He’s a bit like Vingo when it comes to priorities, Vingo being the only one who gets shit for it even though there was someone doing pretty much the same not so long ago who never got any stick for it.Mistermaumau24-05-2025
Its wet roads and lot of crashing in the womens race. This will be about who will stay upright while risking it all.
Remco, if the roads feel bad you might not be on the right bike or tires for those roads.
He can't catch a break. Other riders have no balls. Some riders are winning too much. Patrick L is his manager and mentor for what to say to the press.
Joshua Tarling said the same thing about the road, albeit in a nicer way.
I think Remco participating in the Olympics (both TT and road race) will compromise his preparation for the world's road race.
Huh ! Worlds RR isn't till end of September ! Plenty of time to recover and train.
Remco will need at least 2 weeks of R&R after the Olympic RR before ramping back up for worlds.
That puts him at late August to build towards a late season peak. Pogi will be a good two weeks ahead of him.
Two weeks of R&R after a one day road race ? To funny ! Are you his personal trainer?
He's right, Remco is pretty fatigued by his own word. I think he will compete in the worlds, but probably will not be super competitive.
You do realize it’s two months away !
If he was going into recovery/rebuild mode now.
Are you trying to be daft?
Seems you’ve already beat me to it with your recovery timeline comments ! Are you cycling coach or his trainer ?
Common sense. I did a few 7-10 day stage races back in the day. Utterly exhausting. Can only imagine the hangover from a GT.
Well I doubt you’re on the scale of talent that Remco is and had the staff to guide him. I’m sure things have evolved exponentially since you’ve raced.
It's odd for Remco to be complaining like that.
Shit roads? Don't like it? Go home.
Shit comment!
Do you live under a fascist regime or do you just not like it when people express totally appropriate opinions
Here we go again. Its the same for everybody, just like Paris Roubaix
They say Wout is going to run double discs on his tt bike, this course will have cross winds, I wonder if that is a good idea?
He said it's a possibility. They will decide on the race day depending on the wind condition.