Remco Evenepoel recovers from big night out to win Olympic cycling time trial gold
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Evenepoel, the reigning time trial world champion, got off to a fast start and never looked in trouble on his way to Olympic gold.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
PARIS – Remco Evenepoel added the Olympic gold medal to his world title, defying rain, a strong field and a Tour de France hangover to win the 32.4km individual time trial in Paris on July 27.
The 24-year-old Belgian clocked 36min 12.16sec and was almost 15 seconds faster than Italian Filippo Ganna in second while another Belgian, Wout van Aert, took bronze (36:37.79).
Evenepoel said he only just recovered after he came third overall in the Tour de France, which ended on July 21. He won the white jersey as best young rider at the famed race and also scooped one of the time trials.
“Sunday night I partied until 4am and then I went to bed at 4.30am,” said Evenepoel, almost causing his compatriot van Aert to choke on the pasta he was eating at the press conference.
“The day after I had a long night of sleep and I started to feel fresh only yesterday morning. Last week, I was not expecting to get such a result but, when I saw how I felt yesterday and this morning, it was a confidence boost.”
A former footballer at youth international level, Evenepoel divides opinion in his homeland, where he is loved and criticised in equal measure.
“I’ll enjoy this moment with Wout tonight, maybe not until four in the morning because we have a joint-race next week,” he joked.
“This is one of the most beautiful moments of my life, even if it’s not enough for some people back home.”
British hope Josh Tarling finished fourth, two seconds behind van Aert, after losing time on an early puncture.
A day after it rained on the opening ceremony, dark skies hung low again over Paris as the first cycling event embarked from the military museum at Invalides. At the ramps where riders set off at one-minute intervals, Tarling and Ganna were pre-race favourites.
Evenepoel set off at a lightning pace and was in the lead at every time check.
“I didn’t risk it on the corners. I had the time gaps, but I only really knew near the end,” he said.
Ganna saved his fastest form for the finale, a 5km home straight and overhauled van Aert to move from third to second in the last section.
Evenepoel, a much smaller man at 1.71m and 61kg, did better on his cornering than the other two medallists.
On the streets through the French capital, he chose his line better and accelerated out of corners sooner.
The Belgian was world time trial champion in 2023 and world road race champion in 2022, and will target an Olympic double in the 273km road race on Aug 3.
“It’s the last big race I needed to win, so I ticked it off now. Beating two cycling legends is crazy and amazing,” he added.
Evenepoel had complained about the condition of the roads in Paris before the event, using an expletive to describe the first 5km.
“It’s true it was not very pleasant but it doesn’t matter, I won so I don’t care any more,” he said.
Ganna said he would celebrate with his family in Paris but then return to Italy to train for the Olympic track events.
Van Aert broke multiple ribs, a collarbone and a chest bone in a crash in March.
“This is the biggest of the races we take part in, it’s only when you are here that you appreciate that,” he said. AFP, REUTERS
Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel in the men’s time trial at the Paris Games.
