Remco Evenepoel and Wout Van Aert will lead the Belgian staff within the males’s street race on Saturday, satisfied they’ll work collectively to safe a second gold medal.
The two grew to become bitter rivals after a fallout about techniques and management on the 2021 World Championships in Belgium however have since turn into shut after each struggling severe harm in crashes. Evenepoel received the gold medal in final Saturday’s time trial in Paris, with Van Aert taking bronze.
They appeared genuinely comfortable to offer Belgium two medals in a single occasion and can work collectively within the 273 km street race, with assist from Jasper Stuyven and Tiesj Benoot.
Evenepoel is hoping for one more ‘tremendous compensation’ after ending third on the Tour de France simply 12 days in the past. In 2022 he received the Vuelta a España however discovered a peak of kind two weeks later to win the world title in Wollongong, Australia.
“It’s the final massive race earlier than I take a break, so I’m trying ahead to it. Last week’s time trial gold medal has boosted my pleasure,” Evenepoel instructed the Dutch talking media on Friday within the Olympic Village.
“The expertise from Australia has taught us that I’ve a peak two weeks after a Grand Tour. Let’s hope that is the case once more on Saturday,” Evenepoel mentioned.
This is a novel alternative to attain the Olympic gold medal double. If it really works out, I’d be the primary to do this. The proven fact that I have already got a medal additionally provides me further motivation.”
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Like Evenepoel, Van Aert has battled again from severe harm within the spring after a 70 km/h crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen. He switched his plans and rode the Tour de France to peak for the Paris Olympics. Using entrance and rear disc wheels appeared to offer him a bonus within the time trial and he believes he’s again to greatest. Van Aart received a silver medal within the Tokyo Olympics three years in the past, beating Tadej Pogačar in a small group dash behind lone winner Richard Carapaz.
“I believe I’m as soon as once more the perfect Wout I will be on the bike,” Van Aert mentioned.
“It is tough to find out whether or not I might have been even higher with out that fall in Dwars door Vlaanderen. I’ve made good progress and final Saturday I gained a number of confidence. I begin the street race with ambition and confidence.
“Jasper and Tiesj are busy amassing pins right here within the Olympic village. I like to gather medals, although I’d prefer to have a special color this time, then that assortment is full.”
Evenepoel and Van Aert rode a number of laps of the Montmatre ending circuit in central Paris on Thursday, alongside a lot of their rivals for Saturday and most of the girls who will race on Sunday.
They knew the cobbled climb would make the lengthy race like a serious Classics however have been shocked by simply how selective it may very well be. Only 90 riders will line up for every street race with ten groups having a most of 4 riders.
“Seeing it confirmed what I already suspected. It is a type of course that fits me, with explosive climbs that aren’t too lengthy and never too steep both,” Van Aert mentioned.
“The cobblestone climb to Montmartre is an actual killer and the third and final time over will probably be crucial. If you can also make a distinction there, it’s nearly all downhill to the Seine after which it’s simply one other 3.5 km to the end.
“Even the massive loop out of Paris is demanding and the final fifty kilometres are fairly powerful. There is not any climb that stands out. It’s not steep wherever, you by no means climb very lengthy however the succession of slopes will make it powerful.”
Evenepoel additionally preferred what he noticed in the course of the recon experience.
“Do I believe I’ve obtained an opportunity? Yes, undoubtedly,” he mentioned.
“Montmartre is just not the one climb. It’ll be an actual elimination race, particularly in these temperatures and on the finish of the summer time block of racing.
“The circuit fits me. I believe the fatigue will pile up within the run-in to the circuit and so there can be splits in the course of the laps.
“We are one of many few international locations with 4 riders, so we have now to make use of that to our benefit. Wout and I are racing to do in addition to doable. During the race we have now to see how we really feel and talk effectively.”
Mathieu van der Poel – the most important rival
Race radios should not allowed on the Olympics and so race craft and communications can be important. Evenepoel is extra suited to long-range assaults or solo strikes, whereas Van Aert has the ending pace to race extra tactically.
“Wout has the selection to go it alone or gamble on his dash. For me it must be a tricky race once more, then I can put all my playing cards on the desk,” Evenepoel mentioned.
“It will not be that simple to win alone once more like I did in Australia. It should occur from a drained group.”
Van Aert hopes they’ll race collectively in opposition to their greatest rivals on the Montmartre circuits.
“Let’s first hope that we attain the ultimate collectively, we all know one another’s qualities,” he mentioned.
“I’ve a greater probability in a doable dash but when Remco will get ten metres, there are few who can catch him. We have ridden sufficient championships to know one another. We’ve already mentioned issues and there’ll be a ultimate assembly. Our goal should be to race so long as we will collectively.”
Both Evenepoel and Van Aert named Mathieu van der Poel as their greatest rival, reviving the longstanding Belgians-Netherlands rivalry.
“Mathieu is all the time harmful,” Evenepoel mentioned.
“Pidcock can also be in fine condition, we might see that within the mountain bike. It is a course that fits many riders however we additionally need to concentrate on ourselves and never modify the race to at least one rival. Loads can occur.”
“Just as a result of we did not see him within the Tour does not imply we can’t see Mathieu in Paris. He was working in the direction of it 100%,” Van Aert warned of his everlasting rival.
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