"There was nothing wrong with his second bike" - Belgian camp confused by Remco Evenepoel's mid-race frustrations en route to silver in Kigali

While Tadej Pogacar rode unchallenged to rainbow jersey glory at the 2025 World Championships in Kigali, Remco Evenepoel’s pursuit of silver was marked by frustration and mechanical misfortune. The Belgian star’s campaign never ran smoothly, beginning with an early setback when a crash on the opening laps claimed his teammate Ilan van Wilder.

The defining moment, however, came on Mont Kigali, the day’s decisive climb. Evenepoel struggled as his saddle tilted following a bump on the rough Rwandan roads. Forced to swap his golden bike for a black reserve, the Belgian lost 42 seconds in a critical phase of the race. Victor Campenaerts later explained the problem in quotes collected by HLN: “On the big loop towards Mont Kigali, the road surface was poor. He rode through a pothole, which caused his saddle to tilt. That’s obviously highly unwelcome at the most crucial point of the Worlds, especially without communication.”

Evenepoel’s frustrations continued on the Côte de Kimihurura, where he twice tapped his saddle and gestured angrily, convinced a second bike change was necessary. Mechanic Dario Kloeck confirmed the issue was non-existent: “We checked three times — there was nothing wrong with his second bike.” Despite this, the delays disrupted his rhythm at a crucial moment in the race.

Quinten Hermans helped Evenepoel regain momentum, guiding him back to the leading chase group. “There was a bit of confusion with all the bike changes. I don’t think there was panic, but it wasn’t ideal,” Hermans reflected. “I feel he was still fresh, because he thanked me when I had to let go. Hopefully he could close the gap.”

Evenepoel’s other teammate Florian Vermeersch offered further perspective: “If you see him riding now, he’s clearly Pogacar’s equal. He led the chase. It’s a shame that mechanical misfortune prevented him from contesting the title. Nobody deserves that.”

Despite the setbacks, Evenepoel secured silver behind Pogacar, with Ben Healy rounding out the podium in bronze. His display highlighted both his formidable strength and the cruel fine margins that can decide a World Championship.