Remco Evenepoel has sounded the alarm in the Tour de France. The Belgian of Soudal-Quick Step is experiencing the Tour circus for the first time and already saw his wife Oumi return home crying and overwhelmed. Due to the enormous crowds, Evenepoel now fears a new COVID-19 outbreak in the chaos.
The white jersey wearer came through the mixed zone wearing a mask after the thirteenth stage. Naturally, he was questioned about it. “I wear it because none of you have one on,” he sternly told the media, including HLN. “We just want to take as few risks as possible. I think we need to return to the conditions of 2021 and 2022, yes. Maybe that’s a small hint for the organization.”
In the two years following COVID-19, fewer people were allowed at the start and finish, journalists wore masks, and additional measures were in place. In 2024, the ASO no longer deems this necessary, but corona is slowly but surely affecting the Tour peloton. On Thursday, Michael Mørkøv (Astana) went home with a positive corona test, and on Friday, Juan Ayuso (UAE-Team Emirates) followed.
A mask is no longer an unnecessary luxury, especially now that Evenepoel is heading for a podium place in the Tour after Primoz Roglic’s withdrawal. However, the Belgian did not want to speculate too much on that after the thirteenth stage. “Roglic was definitely still in the running and is always a great champion. You don’t like to see someone like that leave the race.”
Evenepoel’s wife had already sounded the alarm
Evenepoel’s warning to the Tour organization is not the first coming from his corner. His wife Oumi was at the Tour de France in the first week and could hardly enjoy it. Through her social channels, she showed with images and text that it was no fun moving through the enormous crowds. “I want to show a small part of what it’s really like for riders’ wives. Many people think it’s very enjoyable to go to the races. But there’s a downside. If you no longer see me at the races, this is why. This is what I have to do to see my husband for a little while before returning to Belgium.”
The images showed Oumi pressed against a wall trying to navigate through the crowds. “I became so incredibly scared. I started crying and had to turn back because I just couldn’t continue. Being pushed while just trying to pass, I’m completely fed up with it. I even had to climb over barriers to see my husband a little on the podium after his first Tour victory. I felt like a criminal.”