"Who says that Pogacar will maintain his level of 2024? He too can fall or get sick" - Patrick Evenepoel retains faith in Remco's Tour de France ambitions

Ever since Lucien Van Impe won the Tour de France in 1976, Belgian cycling has been searching for a Maillot Jaune successor. Over the years since, few have looked as likely as Soudal - Quick-Step leader Remco Evenepoel.

After finishing 3rd on his debut earlier this year, Evenepoel had been eyeing up a big winter of preparation in order to close the gap to the duo that have dominated the Tour de France in recent years, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. Sadly though, these plans have been dented somewhat by a training crash earlier this month that left Evenepoel hospitalised and facing up to eight weeks off-bike. In the opinion of the 24-year-old's father, Patrick though, all hope is not lost.

"In the Tour the difference was nine minutes, albeit after a disrupted preparation. If Remco can halve that next season, that offers more perspective for the following years," says Patrick Evenepoel in conversation with Knack. "And who says that Pogacar will maintain his level of 2024? He too can fall or get sick."

Time is also on Evenepoel's side. The Belgian might not have been able to claim the Maillot Jaune on his Tour de France debut this year, but the Soudal - Quick-Step leader did secure the White Jersey for Best Young Rider. “Don't forget that Remco will only be 25 at the end of January," his father notes in conclusion. "He still has time. He only has to win the Tour once, right? Not five times. It won't be due to his motivation.”