Eenkhoorn: "If Evenepoel were Dutch like Van der Poel, things would be different for him"

The work of versatile riders like Eenkhoorn is often underestimated in a Tour de France. Former teammate Sam Oomen had some kind words for Eenkhoorn in the Live Slow Ride Fast podcast. “I think it’s really great that he’s joining us for the Tour. There’s a lot of talk about the team surrounding Remco, that it’s much worse than, for example, UAE and Visma. There’s certainly some truth to that. But I’ve seen Remco and Pascal ride together in Romandie.

“I already got the impression there that those two have a good dynamic together. And Pascal is really good in his role anyway. He’s good at giving confidence,” said Oomen. “He did that at Lotto too with Maxim van Gils. Those guys really follow him. For example, last year in Gippingen I heard him talking with Van Gils. Van Gils said he had bad legs, and Pascal told him that everyone is completely f*cked up. Everyone feels their legs, just stay calm and keep following me. And Van Gils won that day.”

“Pascal plays that role very well. Especially in those first days when it’s lots of twists and turns and chaos. I think he’s a very valuable addition for Remco. Pascal can tease everyone with his jokes, but he has a very kind heart, and you see that in moments like these,” Oomen concluded his story.

What can we expect from Eenkhoorn in this Tour? “I’ve had a completely different preparation. First, we did a long altitude camp on the Sierra Nevada, then the Dauphiné, and after that, we returned to altitude in Tignes. I feel really good, and normally I come back feeling great from altitude,” he said at his team’s press presentation.

“My job changes every day, but in the first half of the Tour, it’s mainly about getting Remco as far as possible to the finish. Whether that’s making sure he’s safe until the three-kilometer mark or the five-kilometer mark. The Tour is always hectic, sometimes there’s even chaos 120 kilometers from the finish already. Often, if you’re at the front, you can stay at the front,” explained the Dutchman, who saw his leader lose 39 seconds on day one.

“Often it’s the same teams up there at the front,” Eenkhoorn noted, referring to his former squad Visma | Lease a Bike and UAE Emirates-XRG. “In the Dauphiné, we were right there with them, and hopefully that’s the case again now. It does cost us a lot of energy, but it’s still the best for Tim Merlier and Remco. No spots are reserved for you, especially not in the Tour.”

Eenkhoorn hopes Evenepoel can show his true class over the three weeks. “Remco is an absolutely great champion, but we also have to stay realistic. If he can finish on the Tour podium like last year, that’s already a great result. We just need to focus on getting as high as possible, and he’s already shown in the Dauphiné how strong he is,” the Dutchman explained.

Overall, the collaboration between Eenkhoorn and the former PSV footballer has been going well so far. “Remco is an incredible rider. You hear so much negativity about him in the media, and there’s a lot of criticism from Belgium. But he really is one of the best riders out there. Sure, he sometimes says things in the media, but you should embrace that. As a teammate, he’s great to work with, and when he says he wants to win a race, that’s just fantastic. He’s got a lot of bravado, which is less appreciated in Belgium than it is in the Netherlands.”

“I tell him that too,” Eenkhoorn added. “If he was Dutch, like Mathieu van der Poel, it would be completely different for him. I don’t know what’s better or worse. Mathieu can still go wherever he wants without too much fuss, which is unique for a rider with his palmarès. Wout van Aert, for example, can’t even post something on Strava or go grocery shopping without it being everywhere,” Eenkhoorn recalled from his time at Jumbo-Visma.