Remco Evenepoel will attempt to beat Tadej Pogačar at Il Lombardia throughout a ultimate, emotional day of racing with Soudal-QuickStep.
He turned skilled with the Belgian group immediately from the junior ranks in 2019, turning into one of many first so-called tremendous abilities of the brand new technology.
He’s nonetheless solely 25 however has already received three time trial world titles, the highway race world title in 2022, Olympic gold within the time trial and highway race, the 2022 Vuelta a España, Tour de France phases and completed on the rostrum. He has a complete of 67 victories.
Il Lombardia marks the tip of Evenepoel’s 2025 season, the turning of a web page, the tip of a chapter in his life and his profession.
Evenepoel opted to finish his contract with Soudal-QuickStep a yr early to maneuver to Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. It isn’t a bitter divorce, with Soudal-QuickStep utilizing the contract compensation and saving on Evenpoel’s contract to rebuild a robust Classics group with Dylan van Baarle and Jasper Stuyven.
There’s unlikely to be an emotional farewell and post-Lombardia occasion, however there’s a lot to have fun from the final seven years. Evenepoel hopes to log off in model.
“It may be my final race for the group. So there’s further motivation to do very nicely, to present myself another time on the most, as at all times,” Evenepoel stated in a press convention, attended by Cyclingnews, on Friday.
“It isn’t that I’ve a tragic feeling now. I simply must give attention to the race and attempt to give a final, a pleasant final current to the group. That might be a very good technique to end my interval in Soudal-QuickStep.
“It has been a really lovely interval on the group, with many lovely recollections. Some unhealthy moments as nicely, however I feel the gorgeous recollections are method above the unhealthy recollections.
“I can’t say how grateful I’m for my possibilities and for all of the years I have been within the group and for every thing that we have been by means of.”
Evenepoel has been Tadej Pogačar‘s greatest rival in current weeks on the Highway World Championships in Rwanda after which the Highway European Championships in France.
The Slovenian dominated each races, however Evenepoel nonetheless believes in himself and his possibilities of beating Pogačar.
“Can I beat Tadej? Why not? In any other case I would not be right here,” he stated, rebuking any doubt within the query.
“A victory could be wonderful. As at all times, I’ll do my greatest and hope for the most effective.
“Everyone knows the Lombardia parcours. Everyone knows that Tadej received in Bergamo twice. It is a very arduous race, however there’s additionally fairly a protracted, flat half within the ultimate. There are a number of issues that may be performed for.
“It may be necessary to not lose an excessive amount of vitality to start with of the race and ensure I can begin the second final climb, the Passo di Ganda in place. Then it may be 20 minutes over the restrict to comply with.
“After that, we’ll see the way it goes, however I feel it is a ultimate the place it is best to by no means surrender. There are nonetheless a number of issues doable within the final 20km.
“It is no secret that the UAE group is flying once more in the previous couple of races. They could even be aiming to complete with three on the rostrum, so it may be tough, however I feel that is why we’re right here to attempt to go for it.”
Pogačar has been described because the Eddy Merckx of his technology, however Evenpoel doesn’t appear to endure from Pogačar’s dominance. It’s extra of a motivation to attempt to attain the identical degree of greatness.
“I feel the one distinction is that Merckx additionally received his time trials…” Evenepoel joked, displaying his pure rivalry and highlighting his private success in opposition to Pogačar in time trials.
“That, after all, just isn’t a criticism of Tadej, as a result of what he does within the highway races is at all times very particular. It is like he assaults every time he desires, every time he looks like, after which he simply does his factor.
“The best way I see it’s extra of a aim, to work in direction of that degree. I attempt to take motivation out of it. I by no means get demoralised when he wins the race and I am second behind him.
“I additionally see that my degree is getting higher, however nonetheless, he is fairly some ranges above me. He is the most effective rider of the final decade, and that is one thing for me to goal for.”
