Belgian cyclist faces criticism

Remco Evenepoel, a Belgian cyclist, has faced criticism in his home country after a mixed performance this season. Despite winning the GP of Quebec and securing a fourth consecutive world title in the time trial, his 12th-place finish in the road race at the World Championships and fourth-place result at the Tour of Lombardy have drawn negative reactions from some fans.

Mixed results highlight inconsistency

Evenepoel's performance this season has been inconsistent, with strong showings in time trials and select races but weaker results in major road events. His fourth-place finish at the Tour of Lombardy, seen by some as an attempt to recover from earlier disappointments, has particularly fueled criticism among Belgian fans and media.

Axel Merckx defends cyclist

Axel Merckx, the son of legendary cyclist Eddy Merckx, has defended Evenepoel against the backlash from Belgian fans. Merckx told RTBF, a Belgian media outlet, that Belgium often turns against its champions quickly, contrasting this with the more supportive attitudes seen in countries like France, the Netherlands, and Italy.

Merckx criticizes online environment

Merckx also criticized the online environment in Belgium, where people often use pseudonyms to attack athletes without accountability. He called this behavior scandalous and argued that Evenepoel has earned the right to be supported rather than criticized harshly.