As her husband came out of the podium, Oumi was the only one who could push Evenepoel to sketch a smile. Then the Brabançon, which had fallen without gravity at the start of the event, sat with the media to analyze its race. A race that might have been different if a certain Wout Van Aert (sick and which would have been a good ally in the final) had been at the start.
Remco Evenepoel frustrated after his second place in the Belgian championship: “I had not come to Binche to finish second”
Remco, we felt frustrated with the lack of collaboration of your opponents.
“Yes, I think that some team tactics have decided on the final. I did not, for example, understood the Lotto. They had their legs to jump every time, during the day, but afterwards, there was no one left to collaborate and ride. Their championship was very bizarre, especially since they had strong guys in front, including Berckmoes and Segaert, who are very good. Championship while rolling like that … “
Philipsen has also taken time to relay you.
“Yes, but he can understand it because he is a sprinter. And I didn’t want to take him to my wheel either. So we tried to come back, one and a half against one, on Wellens. But it was complicated.”
Wellens had attacked at the right time to surprise you.
“It could not always be me who goes to the offensive … I could not accompany him directly.”
We still saw you in legs well. Satisfaction?
“Yes, I did a good race. I wanted to make it long and difficult but the course, without real coast, was perhaps not selective enough. The only real bump was a kilometer. For the rest, it was difficult to surprise others. I am a winner, so necessarily, I am disappointed. I would have liked to go to the turn with the champion of Belgium but that will not be the case. (Editor’s note: the World Championship in Kigali and the European Championship in Drôme and Ardèche, which it aims).”
What is your program until the Tour departure on Saturday?
“I will take a few days of rest to try to recover from my efforts of the last days, with the time and then the road. I gave a lot on these two races. The goal is to start in Lille with freshness. But the signals are positive. I feel good.”
“I have a special link with Binche …”: the Belgian Chrono champion, Tim Wellens, confides
