Remco Evenepoel faces scrutiny after Il Lombardia performance

Following his fourth-place finish at the Il Lombardia cycling race, analysts are examining the physical and tactical challenges faced by Remco Evenepoel. While Evenepoel secured fourth place in a sprint, experts noted he struggled significantly on the steepest climbs, with José De Cauwer suggesting he was not among the top ten climbers during the most difficult sections.

De Cauwer highlighted weight management as a potential factor in Evenepoel’s climbing performance. Additionally, Philippe Gilbert proposed a tactical theory regarding the race course, suggesting that organizers may have inadvertently hindered Evenepoel’s ability to anticipate attacks by altering the route to bypass the Sormano climb, instead directing riders over the Madonna del Ghisallo.

Team director Monfort of Lidl-Trek observed that the high power output required on the Civiglio climb—approximately 6.8 watts per kilogram—placed Evenepoel at a disadvantage compared to pure climbers, noting that the pace was difficult for even specialists to sustain for extended periods.