Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) was in tears after he crossed the end line of Il Lombardia in Como, the feelings of a protracted, exhausting however massively satisfying season popping out after a hug from his associate Oumi, who made a shock journey to Italy to see him.
The Belgian completed a distant second to Tadej Pogačar (UAE Group Emirates) however was the most effective of the remaining. He was unable to go along with Pogačar when he attacked on the Colmo di Sormano however paced his effort after which distanced Enric Mas (Movistar) and Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto-Dstny) earlier than using his personal race to the end.
“Once you end second in such a tough however such a prestigious race there are all the time quite a lot of feelings,” Evenepoel defined.
“Second to Tadej remains to be a end result and confirmed what I can do and what I’ve accomplished this season.
“I am proud of second place. I predicted that Tadej would assault about six kilometres from the highest, on the steepest a part of the Cormano. There was nothing anybody might do and I did not need to blow making an attempt to go along with him. I paced my effort, went excessive with Mas and Van Eetvelt after which went alone on the descent.
“It was exhausting to maintain the facility on the pedals and it was like a very long time trial however I loved the journey to the end, that sparked my feelings past the road.”
Evenepoel gave himself 9 out of ten for his 2024 season, highlighting his Tour de France efficiency and podium, his double Olympic gold medals in Paris and his capability to recuperate from his fractured collarbone at Itzulia Basque Nation in April.
There’s nothing Evenepoel, or apparently anybody, can do to beat Pogčar however he’ll hold working and hold making an attempt in 2025.
“The outcomes have been the identical for the reason that summer time, from the Tour de France to now,” Evenepoel stated. “Tadej’s efficiency at Il Lombardia confirmed how sturdy he’s. I used to be simply making an attempt to journey the most effective I might.”
Soudal-QuickStep will collect from Oct 21-25 to plan for 2025 however Evenepoel desires to take pleasure in a well-deserved end-of-season vacation earlier than fascinated by 2025.
“I must hold engaged on my climbing for the Grand Excursions. That is the primary job,” he stated. “I am not considering of 2025 but, I need to savour my 2024 season and revel in my holidays earlier than fascinated by 2025. The one aim is to have one other nice season.”