Remco Evenepoel reveals ambition, setbacks and upcoming surprises in no-holds-barred talk

Belgian time-trial specialist and future grand-tour contender Remco Evenepoel last Friday evening received the Kristallen Fiets for the fifth time in his still relatively young career, awarded to the best Belgian rider of 2025. The event, organised by HLN, provided the perfect opportunity to look back on a turbulent year.

“That was a tough period for me. I had just come out of a rest period and then because of that accident I suddenly had to stay off the bike for eight weeks. After four months without a bike there is suddenly a lot of catching up to do, and it took a long time before I could straighten things out. In the end everything worked out and I still managed to make a nice season of it.”

“There were many, both sporting and on a personal level. We lost a very good friend in our family, my father’s best friend. With moments like that you realise that sport is only relative. When you lose people then that is the hardest to deal with. That was the hardest moment of the year.”

“A lot went through me then: the crash in December, the poor winter that followed, my father calling me to say that Pascal had died a few days before my altitude camp… That victory really was a mix of emotions. Pascal would normally also have been there, so that made it extra difficult. The positive and negative, happy and sad.”

“Winning the national, World and European championships in the time trial was one of our goals after seeing the courses. In the end that worked out and that is nice. I also had goals that didn’t succeed, which is the unfortunate part of this season. But I mustn’t forget where I came from and that I only started training in early February. I was in my best shape in September and October.”

“There were really many beautiful sporting moments, but particularly on a family level we had a special moment this year, with Oumi’s graduation. We went to her ceremony at the Grote Markt. I don’t know what it feels like to get a diploma, so it was very nice to end a tough year on such a positive. I myself was honoured on the Grote Markt after the Vuelta and the Worlds, it’s a special place for us.”

“What do I want to win in 2026? It would be nice to take the rainbow jersey again and the Tour de France is also at the top of the wish-list. But maybe some surprises are coming soon, with regard to things I want to win… Classics? Not necessarily, but everyone knows we’re discussing everything.”

“And everyone also knows there is one race I really want to win and that is the Tour. If I go by the feeling of my first two training sessions, then it’s going to be difficult, haha. But I’ve started and hopefully everything goes well. I will do everything to be as good as possible and try to win.”