Remco Evenepoel’s mechanic recently opened up about one of the most dramatic moments in the young Belgian’s career: a puncture during the 2021 Tokyo Olympic road race that nearly derailed his chances. In a high-pressure event where every second counts, Evenepoel’s flat tire could have been a disaster, but his team reacted with remarkable speed and ingenuity.
The mechanic recalled the tension of the moment vividly. “When Remco had that puncture, everything slowed down,” he said. “We were in the team car, and all we heard on the radio was the panic in his voice. The roads were narrow, and it was difficult to get the car close to him quickly. My only thought was, ‘We need to act now, or the race is over.’”
Without hesitation, the team’s immediate response was to send the mechanic running. “The car was stuck behind other vehicles, and we couldn’t reach Remco in time with the spare bike. So I grabbed the wheel, jumped out, and just ran as fast as I could,” the mechanic said, recalling how he sprinted through the chaotic scene, trying to reach Evenepoel. “It felt like a hundred meters, but it was probably closer to 500 meters uphill.”
Evenepoel, who had been riding strongly before the incident, could do little but wait. However, thanks to the mechanic’s quick thinking and speed, the tire was replaced, and Evenepoel was back on the road in under a minute. “When I got to him, I didn’t think about anything else. We just had to fix the bike as fast as possible. Remco was calm, but you could see the urgency in his eyes.”
Though the puncture disrupted Evenepoel’s momentum and affected his overall performance, he finished the race with his head held high, grateful for the efforts of his support team. “It was a moment where you realize how crucial every person in the team is,” Evenepoel later said. “The way my mechanic reacted made all the difference. It was one of those moments that shows what teamwork in cycling really means.”
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