“That was nail-biting”: Pundits react to Remco Evenepoel’s chaotic march to the European crown
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel completed one of the few remaining gaps in his palmares at the European Championships in Slovenia, but the Belgian made his pursuit of the title far more dramatic than it needed to be. After dominating much of the decisive phase, he nearly threw away victory in the final corner before producing a last-second acceleration to beat Giulio Ciccone in a photo finish.
The closing kilometers had initially appeared to be under Evenepoel's control. He had attacked with around 35 kilometers remaining and eventually formed the decisive two-man break with Ciccone, before surviving a crash and returning to the Italian's wheel.
Ciccone then contributed little to the chase, leaving Evenepoel to carry much of the workload toward the finish. The Belgian still looked set to complete the job, but his misjudgment of the final right-hand corner allowed Ciccone to dive underneath him and open what appeared to be an unassailable gap.
Evenepoel's response was extraordinary. He closed the distance in the final meters and threw his bike across the line, with the photo finish confirming him as European champion by a matter of millimeters. The finale left commentators Karl Vannieuwkerke and José De Cauwer barely able to believe what they had witnessed. “That was nail-biting,” De Cauwer said after the finish.
Remco Evenepoel before the European Championships 2026
Evenepoel makes life unnecessarily difficult
De Cauwer had plenty of admiration for the result, but little sympathy for the way Evenepoel had allowed the situation to develop. “I wouldn't try it twice,” the former Belgian national coach said. “It's good that it ended well. That last corner was a mistake that Remco made, together with the crash. But none of that counts, because he wins.”
The crash De Cauwer referred to came earlier in the decisive move, when Evenepoel and Ciccone were descending together. The Belgian went down on a right-hand bend but quickly got back on his bike and rejoined Ciccone, ensuring that the incident did not end his bid for the title.
The final corner presented an even greater danger. Ciccone timed his move underneath Evenepoel perfectly and appeared to have the race won before the Belgian summoned one last burst of speed.
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De Cauwer refuses to forget Montreal
Evenepoel had arrived in Montreal as one of the favorites but endured a rare off-day, never becoming part of the decisive fight for the rainbow jersey. One week later, he responded by becoming European champion, adding another major title to an already extraordinary palmares.
De Cauwer nevertheless believes the Belgian was right to be critical of himself after Montreal. “He was also the top favorite there, but he was never able to fight for the win. He absolutely wasn't there, at least not at his level. Then I can imagine that you are strict with yourself. That's the logic.”
The difference, according to De Cauwer, is that Evenepoel cannot afford to let one bad day define his season. “But he has to leave that behind now. It's about Evenepoel in 2026, who has taken a big step at his new team. That opens up perspectives.”
The result in Slovenia means Evenepoel now owns the major championship titles available to him in road cycling, including the Olympic, World and European road race crowns. At 26, he has already assembled a palmares that De Cauwer believes is difficult for anyone to question.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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