Axel Merckx has pointed Liège-Bastogne-Liège as the moment that Remco Evenepoel's career, saying winning the Belgian monument was the key moment of 2022 for him, rather than his bigger wins at La Vuelta or the UCI World Road Championships in Wollongong.
While there had been question marks about Evenepoel's temperament, especially around becoming irritable if races were not unfolding how he wanted them to, Merckx said winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège was such a significant milestone it allowed the new world champion to move on.
“Liège-Bastogne-Liège has changed everything," said Merckx, now aged 50 years and an Olympic Games road race bronze medal winner and Giro stage winner during his 14 pro career.
"You could still see his nerves in the Brabantse Pijl. The irritations. But once a monument like Liège in your pocket, you saw all the pressure drop. Nothing had to be done, everything was allowed. And then you see with riders like Remco that a lot is suddenly possible. The physical potential was always there, but he also took a step mentally there. He has become much calmer, everything is more balanced.”
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Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, with his father Eddy, the older Merckx said the world champion's jersey would be a weight to carry next year. He added it would mean Evenepoel would not get any leeway in races and if he wanted to win he would always have to be the best.
“That will cause a certain amount of stress," replied Axel Merckx, now the owner and director of US-based Continental development team Hagens Berman Axeon. "On the other hand, I think he even likes that. He handles it well. It just gives him more confidence.
"It will only be a problem if it (his form is a poorer than this year). Then such a jersey can weigh heavily. I saw that when I myself rode in a team with a world champion who was not performing. Think Vainsteins at Domo. He started every race with more stress. But if Remco is there from the start, it will even be an extra incentive.”
Merckx also said while Evenepoel had been clear in his desire to stay at QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl rather than be enticed away by Ineos Grenadiers, that would change if a few seasons passed and he had still not won the Tour de France.
"Suppose that the next few years would be disappointing at Quick-Step. That he hasn't won the Tour in two or three years. Then the temptation to try elsewhere may increase. Because that will make him think: those other teams have already won so many Grand Tours, they know how to do it. Seductive.”
