"The sprint looked bad..." - Remco Evenepoel makes a comeback with major European Championships win
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel took victory at the 2026 European Championships after a heart-stopping finish against Giulio Ciccone. The Belgian had to wait several minutes for the official photo-finish, in an arrival so tight it kept both riders on edge until the win for the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe rider was confirmed.
The triumph also carried a special weight for Evenepoel after the disappointment at the Montréal Worlds. The Belgian admitted that defeat had affected him more than he showed publicly and that the European title brings major mental relief.
Evenepoel explained that the race unfolded almost exactly to his national team’s plan, although the penultimate climb was marked by a moment of maximum tension. The Belgian launched an attack but entered a corner too fast and lost grip, even hitting the deck with 36 kilometres to go.
“It’s incredible; I owe a lot to my teammates. The race played out exactly as we wanted. It was a bit tricky, especially on the penultimate climb,” Evenepoel said in a post-race interview.
“I think I launched a strong attack, but I went into the corner too quickly and lost traction. I think I could have gone clear there, but in the end we stayed calm, went back to the plan, and I attacked again just before the descent,” he recounted.
That second move proved decisive for the race. Evenepoel managed to get to the front with Giulio Ciccone and the pair began to work together in the final part of the event.
“That’s how I got to the front with Ciccone. We cooperated really well,” explained the new European champion.
Remco Evenepoel won the 2026 Europeans by photo-finish against Giulio Ciccone.
The sprint seemed lost for Evenepoel
A sprint finish did not look especially favourable for Evenepoel. The Belgian himself admitted that when the final stretch began, he thought the win was slipping away. However, he sensed Ciccone was fading in the last metres and overhauled him right on the line.
“Then, the sprint looked bad... I thought I wouldn’t make it anymore, but I saw he was losing a lot of speed with 100 metres to go and I managed to pass him right on the finish line,” he said.
The outcome was so tight that neither rider knew immediately who had won. Both waited for the official photo-finish, minutes of maximum tension before Evenepoel’s victory was confirmed.
“I thought I’d won, but you never know. I think the images were quite clear; I felt great relief and I’m very proud to have taken the win today,” the Belgian explained.
Evenepoel acknowledged he lived those moments with the feeling he had prevailed, though without absolute certainty over the result just yet.
Beyond the sporting result, the European gold holds special meaning for Evenepoel given the timing. The Belgian did not hide that the disappointment from the Montréal Worlds had weighed heavily on him in the days after.
“Honestly, it was a very tough week for me after the disappointment at the Worlds,” he said.
He explained that the psychological fallout from that result was greater than he had shown outwardly. “I think it affected me more mentally than I let on, so it’s a great relief to be back at a good level today and complete my collection of champions’ jerseys. It’s an incredible feeling.”
The victory, therefore, is not only another major title on his palmarès, but also an answer after a particularly difficult week.
“As I said, it was a mentally very hard week to recover from the disappointment and… how to put it? From having let my country down at the Worlds. I hope I made everyone proud today,” Evenepoel acknowledged.
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Now, onto Il Lombardia
With the European title secured, Evenepoel made it clear he has no intention of extending the celebrations for long. The Belgian was even asked about a possible start in Wednesday’s time trial, but he quickly clarified his next target.
“No, now I’m going to focus on Il Lombardia,” he replied.
Before turning his attention back to competition, Evenepoel does plan to enjoy a special night after completing a set of titles that, in his words, already covers every championship in professional cycling.
“I’ll celebrate tonight, because it’s a special victory,” he said. And he added: “As I’ve said, I’ve already won every championship in professional cycling, so I think we can celebrate in style.”
After a Worlds that left its mark and a European Championships decided by centimetres, Evenepoel found in the dramatic finale against Ciccone the response he was looking for. The photo-finish confirmed a triumph that, given the context and the way it arrived, carried far more value for the Belgian than a simple gold medal.
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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- b.s. headline. Jonas wasn't told anything, it is just a pundit telling him what to do. the actual article is not even close to the insinuation of the headline.mij15-11-2026
- I think Roglic could have beaten Sepp. not Jonas. I was referring to Sepp.mij15-11-2026
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- If you go watch some races from last season other riders that have never caught Jonas...are now catching him. Some are just riding away from him and he can't hold the wheelmd197514-11-2026
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- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
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