Remco Evenepoel laughs about parody of chaotic bike change at world championships
Remco Evenepoel won a silver World Championship medal in the road race in Rwanda last year, but afterward, the focus was mainly on the mechanical issues, especially his second bike change. Much has been said and written about it since, but his entourage humorously revisits the event.
David Kloeck (his loyal mechanic) and David Geeroms (close friend and regular soigneurs for Evenepoel) reenacted the double bike change on Instagram, much to the amusement of many followers and Evenepoel himself. "You can't call this revenge, because it's just too good," he said—followed by two emojis—referring to a playful video from a few days ago in which he parodied Geeroms. "Much love."
During the World Championships, Evenepoel fell into a pothole before the climb of Mount Kigali, causing his saddle to slip down. According to him, he could barely generate any power and switched bikes—after having to let Tadej Pogacar go. However, on his new bike, the saddle was also not positioned as Evenepoel wanted. He dismounted to switch bikes again, which cost him a lot of time.
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Analysts José De Cauwer and Jan Bakelants dismissed his second bike change as a ‘crucial mistake’ and according to his mechanic—and cousin—Kloeck, there was “nothing wrong” with his second bike. Evenepoel himself came to the same conclusion afterward. "Remco said he shouldn’t have stopped," national coach Serge Pauwels told Het Laatste Nieuws.
"But of course, it was a decision made in the moment, in his own bubble without much information. It’s not as simple as watching the race on TV."
