<\/p>\n
Crucially, Evenepoel framed that environment as one built on accountability rather than entitlement. \u201cI just have to be ready, because there is always a teammate capable of claiming my position as leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
A lesson learned on the road<\/p>\n
That mindset did not form overnight. Evenepoel traced it back to a specific moment during last season\u2019s Criterium du Dauphine, a phase of racing that stayed with him long after the finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember a phase in the final stage of the Dauphine in June,\u201d he explained. \u201cAfter a lot of climbing we came into a valley with an elite group. I looked around and there were three or four guys from Red Bull in our group. And I thought: \u2018Man, I\u2019m sitting here completely alone. And they\u2019re riding around here with four guys.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
For Evenepoel, the image was confronting, but also clarifying. It highlighted the value of depth and support at the highest level, and planted a seed that would later influence his decision-making.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat motivated me so much, already knowing what would happen a few months later,\u201d he said. \u201cThat evening after the stage I could think of only one thing: \u2018Gosh, just imagine if I were surrounded like that. If we could start the final climb with five.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Pressure as motivation, not comfort<\/p>\n
Evenepoel was careful not to describe that realisation as reassurance. Instead, he spoke about it as a benchmark. Joining a team with that level of backing also means accepting constant internal pressure.<\/p>\n
His comments suggest he sees that pressure as productive. Rather than expecting leadership by default, he appears intent on earning it daily within a roster where competition is unavoidable.<\/p>\n
That attitude also shapes how he views the gap to the very top of the sport. Asked what it will take to close in on Tadej Pogacar, Evenepoel did not point to tactics or technology. He pointed to continuity.<\/p>\n
\u201cA good winter of preparation,\u201d he said. \u201cThat would already help a lot. Every rider knows how important those four, five months of training are. Laying the foundation and grinding out the kilometres, that\u2019s what it\u2019s about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Focused on control<\/p>\n
Evenepoel ended on a note that mixed dry humour with realism, reflecting on how much last season was disrupted by factors outside his control. \u201cMy main goal is not to be hit by a postal van,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Taken together, the message is clear. Evenepoel is not joining Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe to be protected from competition. He is joining to be sharpened by it. For him, riding alongside names like Roglic is not a complication. It is the point.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Crucially, Evenepoel framed that environment as one built on accountability rather than entitlement. \u201cI just have to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":390038,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[569],"tags":[64,63,784,63662,39733,8396,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-390037","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-cycling","11":"tag-primoz-roglic","12":"tag-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe","13":"tag-remco-evenepoel","14":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/390037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=390037"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/390037\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/390038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=390037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=390037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=390037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}