I find it highly peculiar that Van Aert is responding to Evenepoel, as if Evenepoel personally insulted Van Aert. Evenepoel simply answered questions that were asked by the talkshow host and other guests and did that quite serenely. He didn't lay blame on Van Aert, but simply said what happened and his words implicated the national coach much rather than Van Aert. Van Aert's dig in the press "he had to say he believed in Remco because he had no other choice" especially i find nothing short of repulsive. The irony being that he blames Evenepoel for agreeing with the team tactics at first, and not after. I'm sure Evenepoel could say the same thing "he had to say he was 100% behind the team tactics because he had no other choice", which in Evenepoel's case, would actually be true, considering all the sh!t he'd been getting, weeks in advance, by the likes of Merckx, Vandeweghe, random journalists and even Vanthourenhout, the national coach, saying "if he doubted Evenepoel in the slightest (for (not) obeying) he would not have selected him". Evenepoel was being gagged and ostracized days, maybe weeks in advance. And then the childishly "liking" of tweets that criticize Evenepoel.
Furthermore, what exactly was Evenepoel being told when they added him to the team? "Wout is our leader, everybody will ride to make him worldchampion"? Or did they explicitly say "Wout and only Wout can become worldchampion, and if you are in a position to win, we want you to squeeze your brakes"? What exactly are we talking about here? Isn't it quite common in cycling that someone other than the designated leader gets in the position to win because a different scenario has unfolded, which could not be foreseen beforehand? Aren't you supposed to be tactically flexible enough, to deal with those conditions? Evenepoel rides for DQT, a team known for winning, even with their 2nd, 3rd or 4th guy. Even if their leader is the race favorite. Evenepoel won his first WT race he ever completed, he was only 3rd in line that day at DQT, but you can see him talking to Devenyns a moment before jumping in Skujins wheel, so it wasn't a rogue move. The team knew Evenepoel was slower at the finish, yet they protected his effort and he won.
It's clear Vanthourenhout had a plan well in advance and lacked the tactical and strategical skills to fit a disruptor like Evenepoel into that concept once it became clear he was nearing his best form in August. While Evenepoel could have been invaluable if used correctly, increasing the chances of the nation to get a gold medal, be it with Van Aert or Evenepoel or whoever had the legs and got himself in that position. It seems Vanthourenhout wasn't concerned with winning gold for Belgium, but rather winning gold with Van Aert. Van Aert said in the press conference it was up to Evenepoel to attack, because other teams feared what he could do, but that that tactic was always in order to get Van Aert in a more advantageous position. Implying other teams would chase Evenepoel. But by denying Evenepoel the possibility to ride for victory in such a scenario and outright stating he shouldn't be able to win, would make the entire thing moot. Why would anyone chase Evenepoel if he isn't allowed to win to begin with? And yet the Italians chased Evenepoel, because they, just like everyone else in the world not called Vanthourenhout, Van Aert or Merckx, understood that he did actually pose a threat and should be given the freedom to do so. Because no-one in their right mind would assume he was NOT allowed to ride for himself in case he got in that position. No one in their right mind.
So i find it quite odd, that Van Aert would feel the need to play alpha-male, while he might be better served with some introspection, after the team tactics that were designed around him as well as he himself, failed so miserably. Evenepoel is being blamed for asking if in a certain scenario, he would get the freedom to ride for victory. I'd like to meet the first rider to have legs to win a WCC, not having any ambition to win, or not making sure if he is really under no condition supposed to win? You could easily flip the argument and state that if you are as good as he was, and you do NOT inform the coach of how good you're feeling and whether there isn't a slightest chance you could ride for yourself, that you could be criticized for a lack of ambition. For not being a winner.
Is it possible Evenepoel said to himself "I 'm not allowed to win no matter what, but you want me to ride? Ok, i'll ride", and put his frustration into that ride. Sure. And i would totally understand it if that were the case and wouldn't blame him. Team tactics were a joke and the entire premise was hypocritical to boot. This wasn't team Belgium, it was team Van Aert. And team Van Aert failed and should eat some humble pie.