Evenepoel won't fulfill expectations.Do you think Evenepoel will suck the coming 6 years? Else this really doesn't matter. But then at least we have a bold statement to work with.
The sponsor bait theory sounds plausible but realistically Evenepoel just had to show that he could still ride a bike without grimacing. I doubt his actual performance influenced decision-making much beyond that. Especially the 1s grab.
It's not like QST was a bad team without Evenepoel anyway.
If he was physically on another level, as many people believe, he woulda made big time playing football.
And, no, Deceuninck was not a bad team, specially having Almeida, because Deceuninck has never been a GT team, with Almeida they got lucky, but then they decided to cast their lot with the unproven local boy.
But then, folks got caught in this feverish hype, because since 1978 there has not been a Belgian GT winner, and they desire one.
Well, good luck, I don't think he's gonna make it.
And he has a big chip on his shoulder.
Eddie Merckx, just said that Evenepoel has to improve in many areas.
Don't take it from me, take it from Eddie Merckx.