Sunday 05 October 2025
Soudal Quick-Step’s Belgian took silver in the road race at the European Championships.
Remco Evenepoel enriched his collection of medals in France, where he rode to a solid runner-up spot at the 200km race that brought down the curtain over the European Championships. Having won the time trial continental title just a couple of days ago, Soudal Quick-Step’s 25-year-old rode another impressive display on the roads of Drôme-Ardèche and took silver in Guilherand-Granges.
The race came to life early, around 100 kilometers from the finish, when Remco was among those to attack, sparking a selection that saw a small group bridge across to the original breakaway, which included Casper Pedersen, Martin Svrcek and Louis Vervaeke. The double Olympic Champion made another move, at the bottom of Côte de Saint-Romain-de-Lerps – the longest climb of the day – and went clear together with Tadej Pogacar.
A few kilometers from the top, the Slovenian put in a big acceleration that left him alone at the front, while Remco was joined by three riders, forming a strong chasing group which at one point managed to reduce the deficit to just 23 seconds. The Belgian was the engine of the group, doing most of the work at the front, and with 40 kilometers to go, decided to drop the others on a small kicker and continue his pursuit of Pogacar.
In the last hour of the race, Evenepoel rode a constant tempo which helped him make up some ground, and at the same time, increase his advantage over those behind, who were left fighting for bronze. This strong ride brought Remco his 15th medal at an international event, making him one of the most decorated riders in history.
“I did my best and rode my race. We wanted to isolate Tadej as quickly as possible and we succeeded, but he was the strongest out there yet again. Then, in the chasing group, I should have perhaps gotten rid of those other guys a bit faster. I’m still 20 to 30 seconds short, but it’s a fair result. It was a hard edition of the European Championships, but I am content with the fact I gave everything I had and fought hard until the very end”, said Remco, who in the past two weeks became ITT World and European Champion and took silver in both road races at the two prestigious events.
