“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.
Read also
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.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- That was a close finish!awp06-10-2026
- I’d like to see the actual photo finish with the black (not white) line which they use to determine the winner. Ciccone’s photo sure does make it look questionable, but it doesn’t show the following… Which, from what I understand, it is the ‘9 o’clock’ of the wheel, crossing the black line first, which is used to determine the winner.anonymouscyclist05-10-2026
- I think Pogačar is going to have a really hard time becoming Belgian road champion. I mean, nothing seems impossible with the guy, but still. Kidding aside, this is honestly an incredible set of achievements. It's not the usual set of cycling achievements in terms of specific races, but seriously, all the championships he can, in road and TT?! And he's how young? That's really remarkable. Congratulations, Remco Evenepoel!RidesHills05-10-2026
- if you consult the second picture in ciccone's instagram post, which seems to show the actual finish line in top view, it rather looks like a ciccone win! if they do not retract their decision pro remco only, they loose the least bit of credibility they still have. you can argue about how to make racing safer, but you can't argue about a decision that completely lacks proof. they don't even share how far away from the real finish the image was taken. if they would, every 2nd semester physics bsc student would be able to simulate how many cm the delayed bike throw of ciccone would have resulted in. and we are not even talking cm or mm here! shame on the uci (is it uci or a europe specific association?) for their lack of transparancy!Ketterechts05-10-2026
- Interesting you claim Visma isn't a top 3 team anyomore yet their UCI rank is ...#3. Lidl Trek is only #5. Visma has 2 riders in the top 10, Lidl Treks top rider, Pederson is 16th. Their big Grand Tour signing, Ayuso is ranked 38th and has been a bust so far.GB05-10-2026
- Yes, it's fairer that way. A bit like Adam Bradać and Dušan Rajović in Poreć the other day, when they both were declared winners. As I said on the other thread, the uncertainty of the finish line - and the red line may not be on the right part finish line - is much more than that non-existent winning margin. But if they show the finish line here, they have to fo it everywhere and we know the problem there
Rafionain-Glas05-10-2026 - I truly appreciate the way that Ciccone in no way takes away from Evenepoel, praises him throughout, and casts no doubt on his fellow rider. That’s character. Also, he has every right to make these demands. I thought yesterday that the photo finish was clearer than it turned out to be, and now I’m amazed that they called it when there is enough doubt. Back in the day they had ties at moments like this. I wouldn’t mind seeing two European champions in the coming year, after a race that good.RidesHills05-10-2026
- From the photo it's literally a millimetre difference. The uncertainty of the finish line is considerably moreRafionain-Glas05-10-2026
- I wasn't trying to be too critical of Remco and said he just wins and is amazing - so compliments thrown in for sure too. just speaking out loud with my other comment on his demonstrations and vocalizations. yeah, don't change for sure Remco! because he is a winner. anyone that says otherwise is sorely mistaken. the first rider to win on all continents. the double olympic gold. monuments. grand tours. the first rider to have a championship at national, euro, world and olympics in TT and road. plus how many one day races, one week races, and more. he just makes me laugh - you KNOW there is always going to be something from Remco either before or after a race. many times both. and as I'm laughing and loving the drama, I have to shake my head and think put all of that into the pedals. his Jonas critique of no balls was not only funny, but IMO true of at least that stage. if Jonas had ridden, they basically would have solidified a top 3 for each of them. then it is just who is on one step. and this years tour was beyond impressive. so many times that guy was dropped, and there he is finishing top 3 for the stage. he does not give up, he is a fighter. cycling would suck without some Remcos thrown into the mix.mij05-10-2026
- All jokes aside, I agree. But being completely honest, I love Remco and the sheer chaos he brings. He totally lights up a race. His complaints over the Vuelta Stage 1 TT lighting? Electric. His anger towards Jonas’ lack of b*lls? Hilarious. Whining about a rider’s lack of support? Pure entertainment. Some of his complaints are totally fair, others are straight-up tantrums, but either way, cycling is so much more fun with him in it. You can't deny the spark he brings. It’s personalities like his that draw us to our sport. Never change, Remco.anonymouscyclist05-10-2026
Loading
Write a comment