After the Olympics, Remco takes the World
Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel’s magnificent year continues with a gold medal in time trialling at the world cycling championships.
He rolled up to the starting podium with a gold helmet and a gold-coloured bicycle, well-deserved following his incredible exploits at the Paris Olympics, and all eyes were on him as one of the favourites to defend his title.
Perhaps even more impressive than his auto-succession is that fact that the “short one from Schepdaal” completed the 46-kilometre course without a power metre. Being a bit of a numbers guy, it was safe to say he was out of his comfort zone and had trouble pacing, doing it on feel rather than tangible figures.
His incredible performance is a historical achievement, as no male cyclist before him has ever taken Olympic gold and the world championship in the same year in the time trial category.
Evenepoel had passed for the European championships, which took place in Belgium, to focus fully on defending his precious rainbow jersey. It remains to be seen whether he can win the road world championship as well.
Chapeau, Rainbow Remco! Between him, Wout van Aert, Victor Campenaerts, Lotte Kopecky and Alec Segaert, Belgium has a boatload of time triallists to look up to.