Evenepoel is racing for more than the rainbow jersey in Montréal, there’s also a ‘high-premium bonus’ and a tattoo on the line

On Sunday, September 20, Evenepoel will first compete for the world time trial title. The Belgian has been the best for the past three seasons, so everyone is already expecting him to win a fourth straight title. However, following Evenepoel’s comments, Denk also emphasized that an eager Filippo Ganna will be a very dangerous competitor on the virtually flat course in Montreal.

Still, Denk won’t be placing any bets on a time trial featuring time trial specialist Evenepoel. It’s a different story for the road race. Red Bull’s German team manager once got a tattoo on his ankle when Peter Sagan became world champion in Bergen in 2017. Denk would be willing to make a similar agreement with Evenepoel.

"There's room on my right leg, but it's up to Remco to dare to take that on," says Denk, who agreed with Sagan that if the Slovak didn't become world champion in 2017, he would have to put Ralph Denk's name on his jersey. So if a world title doesn’t materialize, Evenepoel will have his work cut out for him if he wants to win that bet.

In addition to a possible tattoo, Denk also confirms that there’s a lot of money to be made from a world title in Montréal. According to the German, a “high premium bonus” awaits, especially given that the Belgian Cycling Federation no longer pays out bonuses. “The World Championships are a good opportunity for our riders to earn some extra money.”

For Evenepoel, however, it won’t be about tattoos or money, but mainly about prestige. Even with Tadej Pogacar out of the picture, the value of a rainbow jersey will “remain just as great,” according to Denk. “In five years, no one will remember whether Pogacar was at the start or not.”

So you can count on Evenepoel, both on and off the bike. Denk can take comfort in the fact that his team leader is always there, even in interviews. The fact that the Belgian already took a hard line against the organization on Friday will only encourage Denk. “Remco won’t give interviews the way 90 percent of athletes do: boring and afraid to say anything. That doesn’t help our sport grow.”

"Remco gives interviews with character. There's substance to them."