Remco Evenepoel: Closing the Gap on Pogacar & Vingegaard
Remco Evenepoel is back, declaring he’s at the same level as his third-place finish in last year’s Tour de France. Following a challenging recovery from a severe training crash that tested his mental and physical fortitude, the Belgian cycling star is setting his sights on the Tour de france. Evenepoel emphasizes his improved climbing and general classification performance, boosted by his renewed confidence and key race preparation at the Critérium du Dauphiné.News Directory 3 is following Evenepoel’s journey to see if the primary_keyword ”Evenepoel’s comeback” and the secondary_keyword “Tour de France” will be successful. With the Critérium du Dauphiné presenting a crucial test against rivals Pogačar and Vingegaard, will Evenepoel be able to close the gap? Discover what’s next …
Evenepoel Ready for Tour de France Push After Injury Recovery
Updated June 10, 2025
Remco Evenepoel is optimistic about his chances at the upcoming Tour de france, stating he feels as strong as he did during last year’s race where he finished third overall.The Belgian cyclist is participating in the Critérium du Dauphiné as a key readiness event.
“For sure, the confidence is bigger now than it was two months ago,” Evenepoel told reporters, highlighting his positive training and racing experiences. He believes he’s made notable progress in climbing and general classification (GC) performance.
The past year has been a rollercoaster for Evenepoel. After becoming a double Olympic champion and defending his world championship time trial title, a training crash in December led too serious injuries and a period of intense mental and physical hardship.
Evenepoel revealed the extent of his struggles in April,admitting he nearly quit cycling.He credited his wife, Oumi, for her unwavering support during this challenging time.
His return to racing at Brabantse Pijl saw him surprisingly win, followed by a strong showing at the Amstel Gold Race. A time trial victory at the Tour de Romandie further boosted his confidence.
Evenepoel emphasized the importance of appreciating his current form after overcoming adversity. “When I was taking the shower after training, I was actually thinking that it feels good to finally be in good shape again,” he said.
The Critérium du Dauphiné will provide a crucial test against top contenders like Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard ahead of the Tour de France. Evenepoel is notably focused on wednesday’s individual time trial.
“It is indeed a completely different time trial here… It is indeed a time trial that will be very explosive and quite short,” Evenepoel noted, adding that a strong climber with time trial skills could excel.
The opening stage of the Dauphiné from Domérat to Montluçon presents an immediate challenge with multiple climbs. Evenepoel is persistent to perform well, viewing the race as a vital assessment of his form.
“It’s an crucial race… I want to do good. I want to be up there,” he stated, contrasting his current readiness with his condition at last year’s race following a previous crash.
Evenepoel concluded, “I’m going to give myself to the maximum and then see where I am at the end of the week.”
What’s next
Looking ahead, evenepoel aims to fine-tune his performance during the Critérium du dauphiné, using it as a springboard for a strong showing at the Tour de France. He hopes to close the gap on rivals Pogačar and Vingegaard.