On Friday afternoon, Remco Evenepoel was the star of the Sudar-Quick Step team presentation in De Panne. On Friday evening he received the Belgian Athlete of the Year trophy in Antwerp, a full day's work.

It is the second honor for Evenpoel, having also received the award at the end of his professional debut season in 2019. Wout van Aert had won the award the previous two years, but Evenpoel's brilliant 2022 season was undisputed. Van Aert came in second in this year's voting, with Olympic champion speed skater Bart Swings in third place. According to [Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab)], "I wasn't sure if I would win because I didn't know what impact an Olympic title would have, but apparently I was able to convince the judges with the race I won. I wouldn't have been disappointed if Bert had won, we both deserved the trophy."

Evenpoel's 2022 season has seen him win Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Vuelta a España, and the World Championships, and he has continued to place in the off-season. He was named the 2022 Velodur and has won numerous honors in Belgium, including the Flandrien, Christalen Fietz, and National Trophy for Sporting Merit.

"The Trophée de la Merit du Sport can only be won once in one's career," said the Belgian. But every award is special, and every award gives you a special feeling."

Evenepoel will leave for Argentina on Tuesday ahead of his season debut at the Vuelta a San Juan, which begins on the 22nd.

In addition to taking advantage of his extended stay in Argentina to train and get acclimated to the heat, Evenpoel will also be a guest at the friendly between Boca Juniors and Everton de Chile in San Juan on the 14th.

"I've been gone for a month now. There is no party tonight. It's been a long day already, so I'll be glad when I'm in bed later," Evenpoel said Friday night.

After the Vuelta a San Juan, Evenpoel will compete in the UAE Tour, the Volta a Catalunya, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege before returning to the Giro d'Italia.

"The danger is that expectations are even higher. People need to understand that you can't win every race," Evenpoel said. If I finish in the top three in this year's Giro, I'll be happy. I want to give my maximum and then I will be happy. I want to enjoy the rainbow jersey this year."