Bernard Hinault was in Australia to support (triumphantly) the candidacy of the 2027 World Cup in Haute-Savoie. So Evenepoel's victory (who has since returned home, photo Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl in the opening) was enjoyed live and had the opportunity to observe carefully the action of the young Belgian, dragged into a thousand comparisons. And when he saw him leave from afar and without turning around to ask for changes, Breton connected the dotsHe recalled the move with which Remco won in San Sebastian. Then he thought about the Vuelta. He recalled Evenepoel and Van Aert's pre-race interviews. And he concluded that whoever moved first would go for victory. Remco wasn't playing. And Van Aert's reaction at the end, which He almost had to give that hug and then he got attached to the absence of radio on the run, he made it clear that this time he was the one who fell into the trap.
Laporte promoted
In France they still haven't understood how to read Laporte's second place, whether it was a missed opportunity or the best that could be done behind the Belgian.
«There was a strange dynamic – Hinault notes – in the breakaway group with Evenepoel. On one side the riders who were afraid of him and they would never have collaborated, on the other hand those who were already thinking about second place and they were already at full speed. In the end, I think the French got everything they could get. Evenepoel was stronger. And a second place with Laporte is not that bad».
Between Merckx and Hinault
Merckx celebrated Remco's feat. After always criticizing him for some of his unsavory behavior, It seems that in the end even the Cannibal gave in. So now, especially in France, the comparisons are moving towards Hinault. In fact, it is not difficult to recognize the athletic resemblance: Evenepoel is 1,71m tall and weighs 63kg, while the Frenchman is 1,74m and weighs 62kg..
«Perhaps we are a little similar – admits Hinault – we are not very distant physicallyBut now, what matters is not height and weight, but physiology: lung volume, oxygen consumption and everything else. To really compare them you should know them and in my time certain data were not collected. However, if we want, there is an affinity in the fact that In 1980 I too won a Monument, a major Giro and the world championship in the same yearI won Liège, the Giro and the World Championships, but I still consider it a bad year, because I had to withdraw from the Tour due to tendinitis…».
The Tour exam
Hinault is cautious about his character. He doesn't know Remco and it certainly doesn't escape him that his exuberance doesn't quite align with the discreet rockiness of his years.
«He is a rider who dares – he says – he attacked fearlessly when there were still more than thirty kilometers to goBut I don't know him, we've never met. Clearly, there's no other comparison now, but certainly someone who wins the Vuelta like he did, can also win the Giro or the TourThere's no reason to think he can't. He's good on climbs, he's strong in time trials. There's only one way to know if he's on the level of Vingegaard and Pogacar: see them run against each otherAnd who's to say that these two will be as strong next year? Would you have predicted a year ago that Pogacar would have so many problems at the Tour?».
Belgian abundance
And so, while Belgium is pampering its world champion who was also able to win a major Giro, France is still looking aroundHe lost the rainbow jersey to Alaphilippe and on the rankings front, the situation is rather complex.
«It's difficult to make predictions – Hinault concludes – but I follow youth cycling well and I don't see any French names at the momentThings can change quickly. Who had heard of Evenepoel four years ago? Belgium has another talent on the way: UijtdebroeksI saw it at the Future Tower, it was very effective. I don't think that at his age now he is much inferior to Evenepoel. While, still in those parts, Van Aert impressed me at the Tour. He did fantastic things. I think he will win the green jersey often in the coming years, while I don't believe the yellow one, but you can always try. Hats off for what he's shown this year: it's been a long time since we had a champion like that."
