"We really lost him as a person" - Remco Evenepoel's father on hardships that 2024 crash brought him

Remco Evenepoel is one of the most talented and prominent riders of this generation and it's a career that was very much influenced by his time at Soudal - Quic-Step. His father Patrick Evenepoel talked about the reasons for departure, the different sensations and the hardships that followed his December 2024 crash.

“We had to learn it, absolutely. At the start I maybe wanted to interfere too much. But what do you expect? Remco was nineteen when he turned pro. Plus I had been in that cycling environment myself. I knew how strong you had to be to stay upright in it," Evenepoel senior said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad.

It was a progression into the cycling world that redefined what looked to be possible, and began the trend of signing riders directly from the junior ranks into the elite category in modern cycling. A tricky step to take, not just due to the physical demand.

“Especially in the past you could be played so easily, there were so many people you could not trust. Today that has undoubtedly improved. But as parents you automatically take on that protective role," he eexplains. "You do not want your child to get hurt. Now I know that is not needed anymore. That Remco is strong enough and that he knows very well what he wants. But it has been an evolution.”

“We are not the only ones. I often send a message to Adrie van der Poel (father of Mathieu van der Poel, ed.). It is the same for him. In the early phase with Mathieu he was much more closely involved. If he gives Mathieu advice now, the reaction is immediately ‘what do you know about that?' They will make their own plan.’ I had better not give advice anymore. And I am certainly not going to interfere.”

Evenepoel's start to his stint at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has been nothing short of impressive, as he has won virtually everything he could - the TTT, Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana and Trofeo Andratx at the Challenge Mallorca; as well as the time trial, queen stage and overall classification at the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana. Strong support from his teammates and an ideal winter see him enter the season in flying form.

“It is different. At Soudal Quick-Step we knew everyone. If Remco needed something from the service course, we could quickly drive there. If you arrived at a race, you went to the bus, you shook hands with everyone. That is gone now. There is more distance. Literally and figuratively. But maybe that is better?"

“You could put it like that. Before I maybe sat too close to it. Or we were too good friends with some people. Now there are others who take care of him more," Patrick justifies. "When I speak to Remco it is almost never about the sporting side anymore. How is training? How was the race? In the past I asked those questions. Today I know I am not his trainer or coach. Other people are there for that. Do not ask me anything about his programme. I read that in the newspapers like everyone else.”

At Soudal - Quick-Step the environment was familiar, however it might have become a routine, and was not the ideal choice for further development. “Nothing against Quick-Step. I keep saying what I always said: he had seven beautiful years there. But to improve, Remco felt he needed a new step".

"I like to compare it with Kompany and Lukaku at Anderlecht. Their heart will always be at Anderlecht. But they also left Anderlecht to take a step in their career. It is the same with Remco and Quick Step. A new air, a new environment, new motivation, this does him good.”

Now what is being seen on race broadcasts is a motivated Evenepoel who has not been recently affected by injuries or illnesses. “That he wins easily so early in the year does not surprise me. That was the case at Soudal Quick-Step too. When he had a good winter, he was there straight away. As a neo pro he was already the best young rider in January in San Juan. And a few years ago he was second in the Tour of Valencia".

"Only it is different now. The last time we saw Remco was Christmas Eve. He already gave me a very relaxed impression. That has only become stronger. I see it on television, in our daily messages, or when I speak to him. It is as if a weight has fallen off him.”

This is specially meaningful taking into consideration how 12 months ago, Evenepoel was in a very bad place mentally after his crash in December, which saw him suffer several fractures and significantly delay the start to his season.

"Do you know what I have often thought about these past weeks? This exact period a year ago and how deep Remco was then. We really lost him as a person. Together with Oumi he climbed out of that valley. And to see how happy he is now, how well he feels, that is so much more important than performances. As a parent that gives such an immense satisfaction. No victory can compete with that.”