It is well known that Remco Evenepoel can ride a bike fast and has already given him many victories. But on November 12, 2020, he did the same with a car. A little too hard, it turned out.
Because on the Ninoofsesteenweg in his home municipality of Schepdaal, Evenepoel was flashed at 125 kilometers per hour that Thursday, although the speed on that track is limited to 70 kilometers per hour. “As far as I know, the motorway still does not run through Schepdaal,” said police judge Dina Van Laethem.
Evenepoel himself did not descend to the courtroom. Logical, since he is currently contesting the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in Italy. Evenepoel was represented by a lawyer.
In full rehab
“We are not disputing the facts,” his lawyer said. “During that period, my client was in full rehabilitation to regain his level after his serious fall in the Tour of Lombardy on August 15 of that year. But such a rehabilitation does not mean that the sponsor obligations disappear. He is still expected to make an appearance, and that was the case that day.”
“Everyone wanted a picture with him or an autograph, you know how that goes. But that day he also had an appointment with the well-known physiotherapist Lieven Maesschalck. He has a tight schedule, it’s best not to be late with him. My client had left a little late and made the wrong decision to push the accelerator a little deeper.”
inadmissible
“Driving fast is important in the race, but it doesn’t pay off in traffic. My client realizes that he was driving way too fast and that this is intolerable. In the future, he will no longer be tempted to drive too fast with a vehicle. With a bicycle, of course.”
The lawyer called Evenepoel’s heavy foot a ‘youthful sin’. “He was only 20 years old at the time. He is certainly not an enfant terrible. He lives in an exemplary way, that can’t be otherwise if you race at that level. He doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink, doesn’t go out. Day in and day out he makes many sacrifices. That does not justify the infringement and he realizes that he will be called to order.”
No suspension
The judge did so and fined Evenepoel 400 euros and a driving ban of 21 days. Because Evenepoel had had his final driving license for less than two years at the time of the infringement – according to his lawyer it was only 10 days – he has to pass a theoretical exam again. That is why the lawyer asked in vain for a suspension of sentence.
“An exam in itself is not a problem. But he then has to invest time and is rarely at home because of internships and races.” But the judge didn’t want to know. “I cannot allow an exception, because he actually has an exemplary function. Other young guys might think: if he can drive too fast on the paved road with impunity, then so can I. In addition, a driving ban may still suit him well. Then he will have to take the bike more and he will get even better.”
