© EPA-EFE
The dust clouds of the Tour have barely settled when Remco Evenepoel is there. With an impressive solo, the 22-year-old super talent won the Clasica San Sebastian for the second time in his career. After Wout van Aert, Belgium clearly has a second goldcrest. His account!
Guy Van Den Langenbergh in San Sebastian
Remco, is this your most talked-about victory ever?
Remco Evenepoel: “Maybe because of the way in which, but I estimate my victory in Liège-Bastogne-Liège slightly higher than this victory. But I highly value this victory because of the team’s perfect work. They have done a fantastic job. I was dropped off perfectly at the foot of every climb.”
Was this the plan?
“The plan was for Pieter Serry to set the pace on the Jaizkibel. And he did that perfectly by driving two of the best climbers in the world (Pogacar, ed.) out of the wheels. Then he would continue his effort to the foot of the Erlaitz. There it was intended that James Knox would take over, but suddenly EF Education decided to attack.”
The start of your demonstration?
“I saw that everything exploded behind us. So I decided to pick up the pace myself, after which only Simon Yates could follow. Okay, with two is good, but a little later he also had to release the role. From then on it became a long effort to the finish. I soon had a one minute lead, at the top of the last slope I had more than two minutes. That’s when I knew I shouldn’t take too many risks.”
Is this the new cycling: few races, win a lot?
“I haven’t raced that much this season. With a view to the Vuelta I want to be fresh, but you don’t miss it either. I haven’t raced much recently, but I’ve trained a lot, perhaps the equivalent of a Grand Tour. Physically I may not have been fresh, but mentally I was. So yes, maybe this is the new way to prepare big goals. On the other hand, I already have 45 match days on the counter which is already quite a lot. That is also the reason why I am not doing the Tour of Burgos. Soon, after the Vuelta and hopefully the World Cup, I will close my season on about seventy competition days. Which is quite a lot! And believe me, the next few weeks will not be a holiday either.”
Does this victory provide extra confidence in view of the Vuelta?
“Gosh, this was a one-day race, the Vuelta lasts three weeks. But we showed today that the team is ready and that I am good. If everything goes according to plan I will be a few percent better at the start of the Vuelta. But my expectations do not change. A stage win and a place in the top ten of the final standings are the goal and the dream. If it turns out to be better later, I will be very satisfied.”
