Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) was in tears after he crossed the end line of Il Lombardia in Como, the feelings of a protracted, arduous however massively satisfying season popping out after a hug from his accomplice Oumi, who made a shock journey to Italy to see him.
The Belgian completed a distant second to Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) however was the most effective of the remaining. He was unable to go together with Pogačar when he attacked on the Colma di Sormano however paced his effort after which distanced Enric Mas (Movistar) and Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto-Dstny) earlier than using his personal race to the end.
Four years in the past, Evenepoel crashed on the descent of the Sormano, flying over a bridge into the river mattress. He fractured his hip however may have significantly injured.
The feelings of the crash got here again to him within the remaining kilmoetres of this yr’s Il Lombardia.
“Brama, that is for you. You saved my life 4 years in the past,” Evenepoel stated to directeur sportif Davide Bramati, who was once more following him within the Soudal Quick-Step group automobile.
“When you end second in such a tough however such a prestigious race there are at all times a variety of feelings,” Evenepoel defined past the end line.
“Coming second right here seems like a private victory. Second to Tadej continues to be a outcome and confirmed what I can do and what I’ve performed this season.
“I’m proud of second place. I predicted that Tadej would assault about six kilometres from the highest, on the steepest a part of the Cormano. There was nothing anybody may do and I did not need to blow making an attempt to go together with him. I paced my effort, went excessive with Mas and Van Eetvelt after which went alone on the descent.
“It was arduous to maintain the ability on the pedals and it was like a very long time trial however I loved the journey to the end, that sparked my feelings past the road.”
Evenepoel gave himself 9 out of ten for his 2024 season, highlighting his Tour de France efficiency and podium, his double Olympic gold medals in Paris and his skill to get well from his fractured collarbone at Itzulia Basque Country in April.
There is nothing Evenepoel, or apparently anybody, can do to beat Pogčar however he’ll preserve working and preserve making an attempt in 2025.
“The outcomes have been the identical for the reason that summer season, from the Tour de France to now,” Evenepoel stated. “Tadej’s efficiency at Il Lombardia confirmed how robust he’s. I used to be simply making an attempt to journey the most effective I may.”
Soudal-QuickStep will collect from Oct 21-25 to plan for 2025 however Evenepoel needs to get pleasure from a well-deserved end-of-season vacation earlier than fascinated with 2025.
“I have to preserve engaged on my climbing for the Grand Tours. That’s the primary process,” he stated. “I’m not pondering of 2025 but, I need to savour my 2024 season and revel in my holidays earlier than fascinated with 2025. The solely objective is to have one other nice season.”