Remco Evenepoel issues bullish response to critics after Tour de France podium finish - ‘Everyone is always doubting me’

Updated 22/07/2024 at 09:22 GMT

Remco Evenepoel proudly reflected on his exploits at the Tour de France after finishing third behind Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease A Bike). The Belgian was in no mood to hold back against criticism received from the press and ranked this achievement up there with the finest in his career to date.

Evenepoel shows his emotions as gruelling Tour bow ends with podium spot

Remco Evenepoel delivered a bullish response to his critics after securing a podium finish at the 2024 Tour de France behind Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.

The Soudal Quick-Step rider came of age in this year’s Tour after finishing third behind Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, taking the best young rider's jersey in the process.

Evenepoel was in a defiant mood as he addressed the media after the completion of the gruelling Grand Tour, and demanded more respect after his achievement.

UCI Road World Championships

Who is riding in World Championships men's road race? Is Pogacar bidding for rainbow jersey?

23/09/2024 at 09:23

“Everyone is always doubting me,” he said in quotes published by Cycling Weekly.

“I think from today on that should be finished. Finishing third behind the two best riders in the world with a big gap behind me [to fourth shows that] I’ve been on a very consistent level. It shows that I’ve made a step forward.

“It was my first Tour de France, there was a lot of pressure from my home country, a lot of work behind, and just delivering on my own race, not comparing with the two big boys, it’s something I am very proud of.

“Sometimes I think people don’t realise how much pressure can really lean on the shoulders with negative comments already starting from Paris-Nice where second place was not enough. So, this is where the emotions and tears come from.”

Stage 21 Highlights: Pogacar storms to victory in time trial to put gloss on Tour win

Evenepoel finished more than nine minutes behind Pogacar, but he became the first Belgian to properly stand on the podium for 43 years.

He stressed that going from third to winning the Tour de France is a huge ask, and highlighted the areas for improvement to become a serious general classification contender.

“Being third in my first Tour de France is already pretty good, and that shows the base is there to maybe become a Tour de France winner once, but for sure, the gap is still quite big," Evenepoel said.

“What do I need? I need to work on my capacities, more specific climbing training probably, maybe leaving the TT work a little bit on the side and really go for the longer climb, the bigger efforts, more specific training in altitude, all that knowledge we can use a bit more in the team.

“I think this is the first step, and it’s already a pretty good one. I think I just need to become stronger, and I think this Tour will really help to build experience and to really feel how high the level actually is. In a few months we can re-look at the Tour and build from there.”

'Jonas and Tadej a league just above me,' says Evenepoel

The 24-year-old believes this podium finish ranks higher than his Vuelta a Espana victory two years ago, in a career which has also yielded two world championship winners' medals.

“Being world champion is another level, but honestly, for me, this podium is one of the highest achievements in my career.

“My numbers are now way higher than what I did in the Vuelta. The level is higher in the Tour, and every year it’s the same: we go faster and faster, uphill, downhill, on the flat, in time trials, everything is faster and more powerful. Maybe this podium place for my future plans about becoming a pure GC rider means more to me than winning the Vuelta.

“Of course, winning a Grand Tour is very special, but like I mentioned, being behind the two best riders in the world, the winners of the last five Tours, this is like a victory for me. All the knowledge they have, this was all new for me, for us.

“I came here with the idea to do a top five, but in the end I have a clear top-three spot with the white jersey and a stage win. It comes on the same place and maybe a bit higher than my Vuelta victory.”

discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.

Cycling