Evenepoel Signs Off with Second Place at Il Lombardia, Eyes New Chapter with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
BERGAMO, Italy -โ October 11, 2025 – Remco โevenepoel โคconcluded his seven-year โtenure with Soudal Quick-step โby finishing โขsecond at Il Lombardia, a 241km one-day race from Como to Bergamo, but was unable to match the pace of race winner Tadej Pogaฤar.Saturday’s race marked both a strong performance for the Belgian champion and the end of an era โas he prepares to join Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
Evenepoelโค acknowledged the โฃdifficulty in responding to Pogaฤar’s attack,โค stating, โฃ”The โmoment whenโ Tadej attacked โthe pace was alreadyโ so high โคfor a certain minute that it โwas โขimpossible to react. So I had to do my own rhythm, my own pace.” He finished 1:48 behind Pogaฤar, an advancement over his 3:16 โdeficit when finishing second in the same race last year.
Despite falling short ofโค victory,Evenepoel expressed satisfaction with hisโ race. “I am just happy withโ how everything went,” he said. “I was โstraight away on the wheel of the UAE โguys so everything โwent super well.” He emphasized his commitment to fighting until the end, adding, “I am the type of guy who will alwaysโ keepโค fighting untilโ the end.”
Looking ahead, โEvenepoel โคdeferred questions about closing the gap between himselfโ and Pogaฤarโ toโ his new trainer, anticipating a collaborative effort with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe to identify areas for improvement.
Evenepoel also took time to express โฃgratitude for his time with Soudal Quick-Step. “I am just very happyโข and proud toโข haveโฃ been โthe leader in this team,โ to have taken a lot of โvictories for this team,” he stated. “The โคlast seven years is somthing I will take with me forโค the rest of my life, but I think now it is indeed time for โคsomething new to start.” His move is motivated by a desire for โฃnew opportunities and the pursuit of a potential Tour de France victory.