Remco Evenepoel reveals next major target after San Sebastián record

Remco Evenepoel had barely finished celebrating his record breaking fourth victory at the Clásica San Sebastián when he began looking ahead to his next major target.

“I will try to become world champion,” the Belgian told HLN after the finish. “The course should suit me.”

Evenepoel’s victory in the Basque Country provided the perfect conclusion to the first part of his season. Despite suffering a puncture with 52 kilometres remaining, the 26-year-old fought his way back into contention before attacking on the steep Murgil Tontorra climb.

Only Richard Carapaz was able to follow. The Ecuadorian stayed with Evenepoel until the finish in San Sebastián, but never looked capable of beating him in the sprint.

Evenepoel crossed the line with four fingers raised, marking victories in 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2026. He is now the most successful rider in the history of the race, moving clear of former Vuelta a España winner Marino Lejarreta.

The record had been on Evenepoel’s mind for months. He had identified San Sebastián as a key objective at the start of the season and was already thinking about the race during the final stage of the Tour de France.

“They ride twelve laps there, right?” Evenepoel asked when the conversation turned to the World Championships in Canada.

It sounded like a casual question, but his comments made clear that the preparation had already begun.

“I have not studied the course in every detail yet, but it naturally suits me,” he said. “It is slightly less demanding than the course in Rwanda, where I finished second last year.”

In Canada, Evenepoel will be chasing a second road race world title, four years after taking his first rainbow jersey in Wollongong in 2022.

The men’s road race on 27 September will cover 273.2 kilometres. A week earlier, Evenepoel will defend his individual time trial title as he targets a fourth consecutive World Championship in the discipline.

Before the World Championships, Evenepoel will test his form at the races in Québec and Montréal.

“They will be test races for the real objective,” he said. “If things go as well as they did during the Tour, if I can stay healthy and if I can complete my preparation properly, I think I can perform very well there.”

For now, Evenepoel will briefly step away from racing. He plans to take a short holiday before spending time in Belgium with the people closest to him.

“I am really looking forward to having dinner with my inner circle when I am back in Belgium,” he said. “This week I will try not to think about cycling.”

The break will be brief. In the middle of August, Evenepoel will travel to Livigno for a training camp with his team. He expects to remain at altitude for almost a month before travelling directly to Canada.

“I will do everything I can there to arrive at the World Championships in my best possible shape,” he said.

Evenepoel will not carry Belgium’s hopes alone in Montréal. National coach Serge Pauwels plans to give him and Wout van Aert shared leadership, with Tiesj Benoot, Maxim Van Gils and Ilan Van Wilder also expected to be part of the eight man squad. 

Three places remain open, with Thibau Nys and Tim Wellens among the riders still in contention.

As so often in recent seasons, Tadej Pogačar is likely to present the biggest challenge. The Slovenian won the road race world title in Zurich in 2024 and successfully defended his rainbow jersey in Rwanda a year later. 

He will arrive in Montréal looking to become world champion for a third consecutive year, leaving Evenepoel and Belgium with the familiar task of finding a way to beat him.