The Belgian cycling super talent Remco Evenepoel did not forget the hardest time of his career even after his furious triumph in Liège.
“It was tough. Everyone in my team, in my family, knows that. There were many moments when I cried for no reason because I couldn’t find myself. In so many races,” said the 22-year-old about his difficult Way back, which gave him a happy ending with victory in the difficult spring classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Horror fall in Lombardy
It’s been 20 months since Evenepoel lay motionless between branches and boulders in Italy. After a descent on the Lombardy tour, the highly gifted racing bike fell over the parapet of a bridge and fell several meters deep. The worst had to be feared. The fact that a fractured pelvis and a contused lung were diagnosed in the Sant’Anna hospital in Como was almost fortunate. A few meters further, a fall could have had fatal consequences.
And yet a period of suffering followed for Evenepoel, which made it difficult for him “mentally and physically”. The recovery didn’t go the way he envisioned. For a boy prodigy with a one-way career and comparisons to Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx, that was hard to accept. He had to put up with criticism, even from Merckx, who accused the youngster of selfishness.
Cycling instead of a career in professional football
Patience was required, Evenepoel did not know that. In the end everything went by itself. Because the boy from Aalst is an all-rounder. At the age of 16 he played in the Belgian football junior team, he ran the half marathon in a remarkable 1:13 hours. The way into football was actually mapped out, he played for PSV Eindhoven and RSC Anderlecht, among others. He had even signed a professional contract. But his love was cycling – like his father Patrick, who was a professional at Collstrop in the 90s.
The fact that the decision was spot on was already evident at the beginning of his career. In his debut year he won the Clasica San Sebastian and became vice world champion in the time trial. Suddenly, a 19-year-old left seasoned cyclists and beginners alike. Until that day in Lombardy that changed a lot. “You can be as talented as you want, but you need the head and the will to keep working hard and improving,” explained Evenepoel.
Long-term contract until 2026
“The best Remco was on the bike” in Liège, said Evenepoel. And team boss Patrick Lefevere, who has helped many professional cyclists like Marcel Kittel and Mark Cavendish back on the road to success, saw himself confirmed. “We were not mistaken in continuing to invest in him,” said Lefevere. Even before his comeback, Evenepoel received a five-year contract extension at Quick Step in April 2021.