Remco Evenepoel celebrated his Olympic Games gold medal in Paris on Sunday night time after which travelled to Belgium for just a few quiet days at dwelling. Still exhausting days of racing and late nights don’t seem to trouble him.
After profitable the Olympic time trial in central Paris, Evenepoel revealed that he celebrated his Tour de France podium place till 4 o’clock within the morning final Sunday in Nice however nonetheless recovered in time to be at his finest for Saturday’s race in opposition to the clock.
On Saturday night time Evenepoel’s gold and Wout Van Aert’s bronze medal had been celebrated on the Belgian Olympic House in Paris, within the presence of Eddy Merckx, 2016 gold medallist Greg van Avermaet and their emotional households.
The riders and their households then drove throughout northern France to their properties in Belgium. Evenepoel will solely have just a few days to get better from his efforts and the feelings of profitable Olympic gold however is assured in his capacity to stage one other speedy restoration. It labored after the fatigue of the Tour de France and Evenepoel hopes it is going to once more forward of Saturday’s males’s street race.
“It’s true, I actually solely went to mattress at 4:30 final Sunday after the Tour,” he confided. “I used to be not interested by how I used to be going to really feel within the time trial as a result of I had one thing else to have a good time at that second.
“After my late night time I spent all of Monday in mattress and I went to a restaurant. On Tuesday I went on the bike however once more went out to a restaurant. Then we flew to Paris for the recon on Wednesday after which I had some very lengthy sleeps. I solely began to really feel contemporary once more on Friday and instantly I felt that there was one thing nonetheless within the tank. That was a confidence enhance and one thing that helped me to carry out within the time trial.”
Evenepoel was the quickest at each checkpoint, averaging 53.7kph on the moist roads to ship a profitable time of 36:12 within the 32.4km Olympic time trial. He completed 15 seconds forward of Filippo Ganna (Italy) and 25 seconds forward of fellow Belgian Van Aert.
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“I had questions on my type and I didn’t understand how I used to be going to carry out. So it is some of the stunning moments in my life and my profession,” mentioned Evenepoel.
Celebrating vs profitable the subsequent one
Time at dwelling will little question enable him to savour his newest success. Belgium is a small nation and solely wins a handful of medals at every Olympics and Evenepoel has received a uncommon gold one.
“Still no phrases, Olympic Champion…” Evenepoel posted on social media on Sunday after a late wake-up at dwelling after 5 weeks on the street.
Evenepoel continues to be solely 24 however he has already accomplished his set of time trial titles. He was European champion in 2019, Belgian champion in 2022 and world champion in 2023 and now in 2024 he has secured the Olympic title within the self-discipline.
“It was the final championship that was lacking from my time trial profession, within the time trial facet. I believe that listing is ticked off,” he mentioned.
“It’s simply unbelievable to have the ability to win this after an incredible Tour de France. This means loads. It’s each 4 years that we get an opportunity to win this one.”
Evenepoel delay any main celebrations till after the street race on Saturday August 3, the place he’s a part of a strong four-rider group that features Van Aert, Jasper Stuyven and Tiesj Benoot.
“There’s not a lot time to social gathering as a result of there is a huge and necessary race arising,” mentioned Evenepoel. “I hope that we’ll have an additional social gathering subsequent week. Now we’ll savour this second after which go for it once more subsequent week.”
Evenepoel’s confidence is sky excessive after a month of unbelievable performances, but he is aware of the 273 km street race, with small groups and a peloton of simply 90 riders, might be tough to win. His largest rivals embody Mathieu van der Poel of the Netherlands, his French Soudal-QuickStep teammate Julian Alaphilippe and Biniam Girmay of Eritrea.
“I believe it is a utterly completely different race. Luckily, I’m not a lone chief in my group, now we have a number of playing cards to play,” Evenepoel prompt.
“Wout is in excellent form, Jasper too, whereas Tiesj can also be all the time, all the time good in Classic-style races. I believe now we have a really robust group. Of course there are different robust riders and nations too.
“First I’m going to get pleasure from this one, rest-up and I nonetheless have virtually per week to consider how we are going to attempt to win the street race.”
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