Remco Evenepoel has repeatedly criticized Jonas Vingegaard for defensive racing tactics and a lack of cooperation in breakaways, notably during the 2024 Tour de France gravel stage and the 2026 Volta a Catalunya.
Evenepoel accused Vingegaard of "sitting on wheels" rather than racing to win, famously stating that sometimes "you need the balls to race".
Remco Evenepoel’s frustration became very evident during a chaotic stage in the Volta a Catalunya, where a surprising and promising late move on day two of the stage race, in which the two riders managed to escape the peloton in the sidewind, turned into a tactical standoff as the Dane refused to fully commit to the two of them racing to the finish line.
When Evenepoel was asked about their cooperation in the finale, he responded with biting irony: “That was great!”
The complaints from the Belgian cycling star don't take Mads Pedersen by surprise, but he also says that they mean nothing to Jonas Vingegaard.
"Of course, Remco complains. You have to try, and it may be that you get some sympathy, or that you can convince the rider sitting on the wheel that it is a good idea to lead."
All his talk in the media afterwards is his way of communicating things and trying to reach Jonas, but I am confident that Jonas couldn't care less", says Mads Pedersen in an interview with TV2 Sport.
Remco Evenepoel will debut this Sunday in the Tour of Flanders, where he will compete with Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Mads Pedersen.