Remco Evenepoel, another year to confirm
Winner of the Tour de San Juan on Sunday, Remco Evenepoel (20) started his second season in professional style only in the best possible way. At 20, the Belgian prodigy is no longer a great hope.
Will 2020 rhyme with feast? The "little cannibal" has the appetite of a big one. At the time of embarking on a season that promises to be even richer than the previous one, the European time trial champion will meet the competition, galvanized by an inaugural triumph.
A second success in a stage race
After the element of surprise, the time has come for confirmation. After the home victory on the Tour of Belgium in June 2019 - where he also won a stage, Remco Evenepoel won the Tour de San Juan (7 stages) on Sunday. With a victory after a time trial overflown on Tuesday (pushing his first pursuer to 32 seconds), the powered team leader Deceuninck - Quick-Step after the defection of Julian Alaphilippe, ill, eyeing the white jersey leader at the end of the week. A border on Friday could have changed everything. "Above all, you shouldn't panic," he reacted hot, brimming with lucidity. At the cost of an effort of which he has the secret, he sticks together. And wins. Between the Tour of San Juan and Evenepoel, the story is decidedly beautiful. It was on these same Argentinian roads that the Brabançon had started pro last year, finishing ninth and better young. He is now the youngest winner. "It’s a race that will forever mark my career," he admitted before the start.
Past master in the art of time trials
In Punta-Negra on the time trial, Remco Evenepoel gleaned his seventh career victory. Anything but a coincidence. He made discipline a specialty. European timekeeper champion for his first appearance on August 9, 2019 in Alkmaar (Netherlands), the phenomenon failed just over a minute from specialist Rohan Dennis a few weeks later in Yorkshire. At the end of an ordeal whose distance he had not previously tamed, the native of Schepdaal let his pout burst, conquering frustrated. Like the announcement of a dynasty? Evenepoel was the king the year before, in juniors at least. Champion of Belgium, Europe and the world of the time trial in 2018, he achieved such a performance in the online race. "The little cannibal" (nickname in tribute to Eddy Merckx) left no crumbs to its competitors. It was only natural that he quickly made his debut with the pros. Courted by the Sky in particular, he opted, faithful to the fatherland, for the colors of Deceuninck - Quick-Step, the team of Patrick Lefevere. The Belgian manager who sees Evenepoel "perhaps the best runner I have managed" (at that age). From Belgium, it is still in question with his first victory in Zottegem on June 13, 2019 during the second stage of the Tour of Belgium which he will win at the end of the five stages.
Growing notoriety in Belgium and worldwide
Few of the Belgians had not heard the name Evenepoel before the Tour of Belgium. Weeks go by. The Basque Country consecrates it. On August 3, 2019, Remco Evenepoel soars to the top during the Clasica San Sebastian. 10 seconds early. Time suspended. The prodigy had just won his first World Tour classic, at 19, the record of the race, after a fantastic as well as unexpected recovery. The legendary Eddy Merckx is full of praise: “what he does is exceptional.” Bernard Hinault abounds, “he is of the caliber of the great.” Cyrille Guimard brings the two together: “This is not the new Merckx but Merckx + Hinault ”.
Then come the European and world time trial championships, the name of the young runner gives way to a reputation. The first professional year of the man who had played football until his 15th birthday was a great success. As a highlight, Evenepoel became the youngest winner of the Belgian Sportsman of the Year award last December, succeeding Eden Hazard, just that. A logical continuation finally for the one who had received the honors of best Belgian hope in 2018. Often cataloged with "New Merckx", the interested party knows that he has time left to catch up with the six distinctions of sportsman of the year of his illustrious elder. "Why shouldn't he become better than me?", The "Cannibal" does not doubt it.
"I don't know my limits yet, but I feel there is still room. I can still achieve great and great things… "assured Evenepoel at the end of the ceremony, making an appointment with the future.
A first big tour on the menu
It’s about the future of the peloton. A new generation with certain talent is emerging. There are countless cracks, from the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (21 years old) to Matthieu Van der Poel (25 years old), not to be confused with Remco Evenepoel, via the Colombian Egan Bernal (23 years old), winner last July of the Tour de France, symbol of a golden generation that wants to take over the decade that has just started. It’s a question of the future, especially for Evenepoel. Son of Patrick Evenepoel, winner of the Grand Prix of Wallonia in 1993, the prodigy has just celebrated his 20th birthday on January 25th. 20 years, in 2020, the opportunity to reach 20 victories? The possibilities are endless. Le Brabançon has announced a rich program, starting with the Tour of the Algarve (from February 19), Tirreno-Adriatico in March then the Ardennes classics in April with La Flèche Wallone and Liège-Bastogne-Liège without forgetting to do a detour to his native Flemish Brabant on the occasion of La Flèche Brabançonne. If the Tokyo Olympics at the end of July constitute a goal assumed by the Belgian, the highlight of his season will be the discovery of a Grand Tour. Speculation was rife as to whether the prodigy would participate in a queen event on the calendar. In the columns of the Gazzetta dello Sport, Remco Evenepoel formalized its participation in the next Giro from May 9 to 31. Now a prominent member of the "Wolfpack", his team's protected designation of origin, emphasizing their cohesion, the gifted man wants to make the future his playground. The future may be written in Hungary. The first leg of the next Giro will be relocated to Budapest as part of an inaugural time trial. The opportunity for Remco to signal itself. As if he still needed it.
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