Remco Evenepoel’s challenge in the Tour de France continues to resonate in Belgium. Sporza analyst and former rider José De Cauwer has also shed light on the situation of the Soudal Quick-Step leader. Which direction should he take with his career? According to De Cauwer, his mindset is especially crucial.
"He won a stage. But you would have expected him to perform better compared to last year, when he finished third. Not necessarily in terms of placing, but he should have been able to match the top climbers more closely. And we didn’t see any of that here. Is that lost? No. Has Evenepoel become a less capable rider? No. Is there work to be done? Yes," said De Cauwer.
What kind of work exactly? "In life, you have to put many things in perspective. You need to learn how to deal with certain matters. That’s very important. He needs to go home now. Try to recover from the setback—whether mental, physical, or both—and then search for new goals. He’s not going to stop racing, so he must keep moving forward."
Thymen Arensman, who managed to win a stage despite several setbacks, could be a good role model for Evenepoel according to De Cauwer. "But after sunshine comes rain, no matter how you look at it. Arensman rode his bike from Andorra to the Netherlands to reflect and clear his head. Evenepoel doesn’t need to do that, but it all comes back to putting things in perspective and acceptance."
"Dealing with professional cycling is an art. You can do a lot and give up a lot. But you also have to ask yourself: does this bring me anything? Does it make me better? Do I feel better in my own skin because of it? He should be a bit more relaxed. That tension and stiffness need to go. He should enjoy racing more. That applies to the entire peloton. Look at riders like Pogacar and Van der Poel and how they approach racing. You might say: that’s easy for them, they’re absolute top riders. These men do everything for it, but they still try to stay playful. That is especially the responsibility of the team environment and support staff."
