"This second place is worth as much as gold": Remco Evenepoel's parents' pride in his World Championship performance
Cycling
The tension was palpable this Sunday in the heart of Schepdaal, where the fan bar "In de Rustberg" became the emotional epicenter of the cycling World Championships. There, amidst flags, chants and an atmosphere decorated with African winks, hundreds of fans gathered to support their local idol: Remco Evenepoel.
Despite falling short of gold, the young champion's silver medal was celebrated with an intensity that only a true local hero can inspire.
The climax of the day came around 4:00 p.m., when, after several mechanical mishaps that marked Evenepoel's race, applause broke out in the room. No matter the crashes, no matter the technical problems: Remco had given everything.
"Remco kept fighting, he never gave up. That's what we're most proud of," his mother, Agna, visibly moved by her son's fortitude, declared to Sporza emotionally. "This second place is worth as much as gold. He showed who he really is," she added.
Unreserved family pride
His father, Patrick, also shared words of gratitude and satisfaction: "The best cyclist in the world has won, but Remco has given everything. We are very proud of him. The problem with the bike will be cleared up, but that's not important now."
The parents' excitement was evident. Although they were unable to hug the medalist in person, Agna laughingly confessed to having sent a message to her daughter-in-law, Oumi: "Let her give him the hug in my place. The rest will come when we see him."
Remco Evenepoel won silver in the Kigali 2025 World Cup inline race
The community of Schepdaal, Evenepoel's birthplace, once again showed its enormous devotion to the cyclist. The bar, specially transformed for the occasion, vibrated throughout the day. Although there were moments of frustration at the Belgian's bad luck, in the end the admiration and respect outweighed any disappointment.
"Once he gets over the first disappointment, Remco will be proud. We all want to win, but this also deserves a celebration," his mother said.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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