"You could just give them the middle finger" - Can Remco Evenepoel decisively silence criticism at European Championships?
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel has been backed to send a definitive message to his critics following his World Championships disappointment - sending a figurative response to media and vocal fans at Sunday's European Championships elite men's road race.
The Belgian arrives once again as a lead contender, but this time in a field with less contenders than Montreal and a course with 70 kilometres less and a less-demanding nature of circuit for the Red Bull rider. He once again carries the favourite tag ahead of the race.
However, the 26-year-old has been told to channel his anger from Montreal into his performance, with one analyst describing it as a perfect way to stick it to vocal fans, and the media.
“Evenepoel is obviously upset,” Dekker said on the Live Slow Ride Fast podcast.
“He’s upset with himself, but the media hasn’t exactly made things easy for him either. Everyone in Flanders has an opinion about it. Will a European Championship win make up for it all? In a way, yes, but it wasn’t just a case of falling just short on Sunday.”
Remco Evenepoel in action at the 2026 Montreal World Championships
Evenepoel has chance to silence critics
Although a European jersey isn't as prestigious as the Worlds' rainbow jersey, a win is a win for the Belgian. Dekker believes that it would go along way towards silencing criticism and both his anger and a less difficult parcours suits him.
"You could just give them the middle finger and say, 'That's good enough for me.'
“If he’s just as good as he was on Sunday, he definitely has a chance. It’s just 80 kilometers less than last week. And it’s straightforward—it’s five two-kilometer segments he has to focus on. But I think he’ll be better. Because he’s angry. That really fuels him.”
When it comes to contenders, Primoz Roglic and Gilio Ciccone stick out in a field missing several potential contenders who opted not to ride the race. Dekker notes that even a Ciccone attack is salvageable for Evenepoel with rolling terrain, a descent and flat run-in to the finish after the circuit's climb.
Mads Pedersen warning
“Suppose someone gives you a hard time on that little climb. Where would a Ciccone, having a world-class day, ride off to if you were Evenepoel?"
However, in a word of warning, Dekker believes that Mads Pedersen should be one to watch. His battling Montreal performance saw him steadily close down the favourites in the final hours of racing, signalling that his form could be enough to even contend in a climbing-heavy course in Slovenia.
“We’ll definitely have to keep an eye on him [Mads Pedersen, Ed.]. His performance on Sunday has given him even more confidence. Now he’s thinking: maybe I’ll become European champion.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- I hope he rides a bitmij15-11-2026
- Greatest athlete this world has ever produced ! LOL ... you definitely are a comdian ! Cycling is so sprecialized and you think he's the greatest athlete ever ! Still laughing !frieders315-11-2026
- b.s. headline. Jonas wasn't told anything, it is just a pundit telling him what to do. the actual article is not even close to the insinuation of the headline.mij15-11-2026
- I think Roglic could have beaten Sepp. not Jonas. I was referring to Sepp.mij15-11-2026
- I'm deeply sick of this guy and his unwillingness to race seriously for more than a month or two. I'll never respect riders who do that. Seixas will be stronger than him next season, and maybe Del Toro as well. I don't even think he'll finish on the podium at any GT where Pogi, Seixas, and Del Toro are racing.megasmacky15-11-2026
- Not a chance in hell.megasmacky15-11-2026
- If you go watch some races from last season other riders that have never caught Jonas...are now catching him. Some are just riding away from him and he can't hold the wheelmd197514-11-2026
- He just doesn't have the desire anymore. I read an article earlier today that said he almost retired last year. His reasoning was he is away from home to much. Visma was able to keep him riding by allowing him to skip certain camps. So, while currently Visma is doing altitude work...Jonas is at home. Which means 2 things. 1- He maybe fresher than other riders. But, not the condition. 2-Is a somewhat slap in the face to others on the team that are supposed to help him win. Yet feel like he hasn't done what they have so perhaps they don't provide as good of protection or they ride more for theme (which the team may not notice).md197514-11-2026
- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
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