Evenepoel puts worlds 'disappointment' to bed with European crown

Slovenia witnessed an extraordinary display of cycling prowess as Remco Evenepoel, the 2024 Olympic road racing gold medallist, clinched the European championship title. The Belgian cyclist edged out Italian rival Giulio Ciccone at the finish line in Sencur, Slovenia, with the elite field trailing behind. Evenepoel's teammate Christian Scaroni secured the third position, more than a minute behind the race leaders.

The 2019 and 2025 European time trial gold medallist expressed his elation, stating, "It's incredible. I thought I had won, but you can never be sure. This performance was honestly really tough for me after the disappointment of the worlds." Evenepoel, who was the pre-race favorite alongside the injured Tadej Pogacar, emphasized the significance of his achievement, saying, "It's a big relief to be back on a good level today and to complete my championship jerseys."

The race, which was held in Evenepoel's home country, saw the absence of other standout riders such as Jonas Vingegaard, Paul Seixas, Tom Pidcock, and Mathieu van der Poel. However, the absence of the reigning Tour de France champion did not dampen the spirits of the crowd. From the window of a car on the route, Pogacar, the joint-record five-time Tour de France winner, made his presence felt, drawing cheers from local fans.

As the final kilometer approached in the picturesque Alps, Evenepoel and Ciccone were in a tight battle. Evenepoel, who had initially made a mistake by sliding on the tarmac on a corner, managed to catch up with Ciccone, who had slowed down to conserve energy. The two riders crossed the finish line neck and neck, with the photo finish deciding the outcome in Evenepoel's favor, marking his double win in the European and world championships.