Cycling Star Remco Evenepoel Honors Wife with Arabic Name Tattoo

Madly in love with his wife, Remco Evenepoel has tattooed her first name Oumaïma "Oumi" on his right wrist. An indelible inscription that has an important meaning for the Belgian cyclist. When asked about it, he replies: "It’s a small tattoo. [...] I’m neither the first nor the last to get a tattoo." "It’s my wife’s name (Oumaïma, Editor’s note) in Arabic. And it’s beautifully written," he smiled.

This is not the first time Evenepoel has paid tribute to his wife. "It was the toughest battle of my life so far, mentally and physically. I can honestly say that I sank and doubted my future a lot. There were a lot of tears and frustration. That’s why I want to show you who was really there for me these past few months," he testified to Oumaïma, who was a great support for him when he was going through difficult times.

The Belgian cyclist had indeed been the victim of a serious accident in December 2024. And, since the Tour of Lombardy in October, he had not participated in a race. After months of rehabilitation, the double Olympic champion of Paris (time trial and road race) made his return to the peloton during the 65th edition of the Brabantse Pijl. This Wednesday, he is participating in the time trial of the fourth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné. His wish is to win it. "What is my ambition? Is that still a question? Every time trial I compete in, I do it to win," he declared.

And he added: "That it could be the team’s 1000th victory, I haven’t thought about it much yet. But that it would be precisely me, as world champion and Olympic champion, who does it, is for Patrick (Lefevere, Editor’s note) a nice conjunction of circumstances."