Belgium’s national cycling coach, Serge Pauwels, expressed profound relief and joy following Remco Evenepoel’s victory at the European Road Championships in Slovenia. This triumph was particularly significant after the team’s previous setback at the World Championships in Montreal.
Reflecting on the World Championships, Pauwels noted, “Last week was a significant disappointment for us. The team showed great character. This was a new race, a new opportunity. We had to take responsibility, and we took control of the race. That worked out very well.” (wielerflits.be)
Despite the team’s proactive approach, Pauwels admitted to moments of uncertainty, especially during the final sprint. He recounted, “In the last lap, I wasn’t entirely convinced about the sprint. We know Ciccone is fast.” Pauwels had a brief exchange with Evenepoel during the finale, advising him that the gap to Scaroni was fifty seconds and suggesting a more conservative approach in the closing kilometers. He added, “Ciccone stopped working with us. Maybe that made the difference.” (wielerflits.be)
After the intense sprint, Pauwels confessed, “I thought we had lost.” He shared that the team was watching the race footage in their car, and the images appeared extremely close. (wielerflits.be)
The race was not without its challenges. Pauwels recounted a tense moment when Evenepoel crashed, “When Remco fell, we couldn’t do much. We were stuck in the caravan on a narrow road. But we saw that he quickly got back on his bike. A relief, because he crashed on the right side. Fortunately, his derailleur wasn’t broken.” (wielerflits.be)
Pauwels’ insights highlight the unpredictable nature of professional cycling, where moments of doubt can quickly turn into celebrations of success. The team’s resilience and strategic decisions were pivotal in securing Evenepoel’s victory, underscoring the importance of adaptability and composure under pressure.