Evenepoel didn’t respond to Van Gucht’s voice message after 'absurd and disrespectful remarks': "He doesn’t deserve that"

“I feel forced to respond to the absurd and disrespectful claims Ruben Van Gucht made about my private life,” Evenepoel wrote. “He said I’m financially supporting my wife’s family.” The comments came as Van Gucht spoke on Monday evening during a segment about Evenepoel following his Ardennes campaign. The cycling journalist referred to him as “a street fighter,” adding, “I don’t mind that. Riders don’t all have to be polished personalities.”

Van Gucht also commented on the fact that Evenepoel, alongside his wife Oumi, has been exploring Islam more deeply. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that,” he said. “Hopefully, it brings him a lot of strength.” According to Van Gucht, Evenepoel hasn’t spoken much about his faith publicly, but he did mention “his wife’s family.” “The fact is, in recent years, he has involved his wife’s family more and more in his victories and performances. From what I hear, he also tries to support them.”

“Is that necessary? Maybe not. That’s for him to decide. I don’t think many of his colleagues approach things that way,” Van Gucht added. When asked what exactly he meant, he continued, “It’s just what I hear. So sure, people can say tomorrow that these are just empty rumors. But I’m simply repeating what’s going around inside the cycling world.”

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Evenepoel didn’t hesitate to respond after hearing Van Gucht’s remarks. “Let me be very clear, this is complete nonsense,” he wrote. “My wife comes from a well-off family, with parents who have built a beautiful life for their children through hard work and entrepreneurship. Oumi was my neighbor. Her parents live just 200 meters from mine in Schepdaal. Anyone from the area knows they live in a beautiful villa. A proper house.”

And he would know. “I have been welcomed there with open arms since I was 17. We have known each other since we were kids, long before money, fame or anything else was involved. Her parents did not build their success thanks to anyone, and certainly not thanks to me. So for you, Ruben, to suggest that I am supporting them? Let me make something clear. If anyone has been supportive, it is our parents, who have always done everything to help us and make us stronger.”

In the closing lines of his message, Evenepoel hit back even harder. “I do not know where you get your stories from, Ruben. Or is it just hard for you to believe that a Moroccan family worked hard and became successful? That says more about your narrow worldview than about reality. The truth is simple. Love, respect and hard work got us where we are today. Not prejudice, not gossip and definitely not so-called journalists who prefer to spread nonsense.”

And the final jab? “Maybe you should be more concerned about your own family, Ruben. Because we are hearing things too.”

Of course, Evenepoel's reaction was not the only one on Tuesday. Het Nieuwsblad contacted his father, Patrick, who, apart from Van Gucht's comments, also pointed to the enormous flood of hateful reactions towards Evenepoel and his wife, Oumi, on social media. "It never stops, and then Ruben Van Gucht adds fuel to the fire. We don't follow it that closely ourselves, but people who know us well keep us informed. People can be nasty, especially on social media."

"It's about all kinds of things and probably about Oumi, too," explained Evenepoel's father. And the family is completely fed up with it. "Of course, those comments affect us. It's no longer about the athlete but about our son. Is Remco reading all this? He doesn't have Facebook but probably heard about it." The police have been informed. "We can't ignore these comments any longer. The appropriate people are looking into it. This is not just for us but everyone who has to go through something like this. No complaints have been filed yet."

On Tuesday, it also became clear that Van Gucht had sent Evenepoel a voice message in response to the commotion. The Belgian journalist did not receive a reply. "Did I respond to his voice message? No, he doesn't deserve it," Evenepoel told Het Nieuwsblad ahead of the first stage of the Tour de Romandie.

"I think my point of view was clear," Evenepoel explained. "He sent a voice message, but without any apology. That was a bit odd, but we'll see what happens. My family's and my point of view was clear. Now, I have to focus on racing, and everyone must get on with their own business. Hopefully, it won't get too much attention."

Van Gucht's statements really hit home with Evenepoel. "That evening, my mind was racing, I would say. But after a short conversation with Klaas Lodewyck (sports director, ed.), I was able to put it behind me and focus on the prologue and the upcoming days here," said the double Olympic champion, looking ahead to a great week in the Tour de Romandie.