"This is much more than a cycling race, it transcends all sports" - Greg van Avermaet praises Remco Evenepoel's Olympic gold

Remco Evenepoel got Belgium's 2024 Paris Olympic Games off to a golden start on Saturday afternoon, adding the Olympic title to his World Championship win against the clock from 2023.

One man who knows better than most just what winning an Olympic gold medal in road cycling means, is the 2016 men's road race winner and Evenepoel's Belgian compatriot, Greg van Avermaet, who took the gold ahead of Jakob Fuglsang and Rafal Majka in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“It’s quite special to see it all from this perspective,” said a beaming Van Avermaet afterwards, in quotes collected by Het Nieuwsblad. “It’s incredible how much emotion an Olympic title like that can bring about. And how great that we’re continuing that tradition."

Whilst for some, the Olympics isn't as much of a big deal for road cycling as it in in other sports, Van Avermaet is insistent that taking home a gold medal from the games will be one of Evenepoel's career highlights when he looks back after retirement. "For me, this remains the most beautiful thing you can achieve as an athlete," explains the 39-year-old. "This is much more than a cycling race, it transcends all sports.”

In terms of the women's time trial, the Belgian's weren't able to double up with gold as Lotte Kopecky, defied by a crash on the wet and slippery roads eventually crossed the line with the 6th fastest time as Australia's Grace Brown secured the gold medal against the clock. "Kopecky has a lot of capacity to win the road race and the omnium. That will be a new chance to shine," Van Avermaet assesses, remaining hopeful for the world champion's hopes. 

Van Avermaet is also hopeful that Evenepoel and Wout van Aert, who took bronze in the time trial, can back up their performances on the 3rd of August in the road race. "The pressure is off, they can start without much stress. But at the same time these medals also mean more responsibility for the team. They are now the top favourites," he concludes.