"This is your sign to never give up" - Remco Evenepoel's wife Oumi shares emotional message after Olympic Games success

Behind a great athlete is often a great partner. These words could be well applied to the case of Remco Evenepoel who has just experienced the most successful week of his life at the Olympic Games, conquering both time-trial and road race events, and managed to do so in the company of his wife Oumaïma Rayane.

"Woahhh, pinch me. DOUBLE Olympic Champion!! 7 years ago, little Remco & Oumaïma would’ve never believed what’s happening now…" 'Oumi' wrote in an Instagram post, sharing a few pictures of years back but also of the celebrations in the podium in Paris now. "We were 2 teenagers, neigbours and high school lovers with big dreams, and now we are living those dreams together!! This is your sign to never give up. Even when it feels impossible, even when the world says you’re not good enough, even when you face hate for who you are, even when you hit rock bottom. Get up and show them what you’re capable of".

It is a message guided towards inspiring young athletes but simultaneously another congratulatory message for Evenepoel. The Belgian has certainly gotten plenty of those this year... He won the Volta ao Algarve, the final stage of Paris-Nice at the Promenade des Anglais (where he then finished the Tour de France as well), the time-trial at the Criterium du Dauphiné and finally a stage win and podium in his debut Tour de France.

Although he has won the Vuelta a España in the past, it can be confidently argued that this Tour was the strongest ever performance of the Belgian rider in a Grand Tour, where he was in direct contention with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard on multiple days; was stronger than the rest of the competition; and rode the three weeks with incredible consistency and calm despite the great pressures that come with the Tour. Soudal - Quick-Step was also on point, barely needed in the mountains as he always performed but with Mikel Landa also riding to a superb fifth place and always being present in case Evenepoel struggled.

The Olympic Games proved to be a stepping stone in an already insanely successful career. He won the time-trial which means he has now won in the Olympics; World, European and National Championships; and has won in a time-trial also in every single Grand Tour, achieving essentially everything that is possible against the clock on the road. He then won the road race with an even more impressive performance, riding away from the favourites' group with 38 kilometers to go, catching up with the attacking groups and simply riding them off the wheel in a circuit that did not feature any major climb.

He will now take a deserved break before likely returning to racing next month at the Tour of Britain, which will be part of his preparation for the World Championships where he will be a major favourite for both rainbow jerseys.