An EC in France Just after a WC in Rwanda: a part of the cycling platoon faces a significant challenge this week. This Certainly Applies to Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian Wants To Become European Time Trial Champion on Wednesday, Barely 72 Hours After the WC Road Race.
A Twelve-Hour Night Flight from Kigali to Marseille with A Stopover in Ethiopia, Followed by a Three-Hour Drive to Loriol-sur-Drôme. That was Evenepoel’s Travel Schedule between the WC and the ec Cycling on Monday and Tuesday.
The two-time Olympic Champion Aims for a Unique Double. He can Become the first man to Become European Champion and World Champion in the Time Trial in the Same Season. A week and a half ago, he was clearly the best at the wc in Rwanda. On Wednesday he is going for ec gold, but the cycling calendar is a major opponent.
An EC in Europe Three Days After a WC in Africa is, to say the least, not an iDeal Schedule. “A Ridiculous Planning, of Course,” Said the Dutch National Coach Koos Moerenhout Last Week to WielerFlits .
His Belgian Colleague Serge Pauwels was Slightly More Diplomatic at Sporza . “We Did Not Choose This Planning Ourselves and Will Deal with it best as Possible,” Said the Former Rider. “It is Certainly not Unthinkable that Remco Will Take the Title on Wednesday, Despite the Long Journey and Fatigue.”
EC HAS No Fixed Place On The Cycling Calendar
Since 2016, professionals Have Been Allowed to Participate in the EC Cycling. Since then, the Continental Tournament Has had no fixed place on the calendar. The Planning Depends, Among Other Things, On The Wishes of the EC Organization and On The Distribution of Other (Autumn) Races.
Last Season, For Example, The EC was a week before the WC. The European Tournament was then in Belgium and the World Tournament in Switzerland, which made the logistical task for the riders and federations a lot simpler than now.
Many Male Riders have chosen either the WC or the ec this year because of the complicated Schedule. Evenepoel Will Face Toppers Such As Joshua Tarling, Filippo Ganna, Mads Pedersen, João Almeida and Rémi Cavagna in the 24-kilometre Time Trial Around Loriol-Sur-Drôme on Wednesday. They all skipped the WC in Rwanda.
The Netherlands also Sends Two Fresh Forces, with National Champion Daan Hole and Dylan van Baarle. Tadej Pogacar Finished Fourth in the WC Time Trial, But Only Particates in the Road Race on Sunday at the EC. The World Champion on the road Will then face his great rival Jonas Vingegaard. The Dane Did Not Travel to Rwanda and is Skipping the Ec Time Trial.
Evenepoel is the only topper Who Dares to Ride the WC Road Race and the Ec Time Trial in a Period of Barely 72 Hours. The Single European Champion Has had a good trip in any case. He was already in the Ardèche on Tuesday Morning to Explore the Time Trial.