Quick-Step Alfa Vinyl boss Patrick Lefebvre said Belgian rider Lemko Evenpoel, who won the recent Tour of Norway in dominating fashion, has changed "beyond recognition" from a year ago.

Evenepoel took three stage wins in six days of racing, eventually taking the overall win by 56 seconds over Alpecin-Phoenix climber Jay Wein. With eight victories this season, including Liège-Bastogne-Liège, he is one win shy of the nine victories he will have in the 2020 season, when a crash in Lombardy ended his career.

In Norway, his return to action a month after his victory in Liège, Evenpoel won the uphill finish of the opening stage and the 12km summit finish of stage 3 by 27 seconds.

Lefebvre, who writes a weekly column for Het Newsblad (opens in new tab), said the change in Evenpoel's mentality was "remarkable" compared to his condition a season ago.

"You can no longer recognize Lemko Evenpoel running in the Tour of Norway. He doesn't look at all like the athlete he was a year ago." He doesn't look like the rider he was a year ago. Everyone is talking about how explosive he has become, as he showed in the first stage. But I think his mental transformation has been remarkable as well."

"Lemko's riding has become more consistent and more Zen. On the final climb to Gaustasoppen [on stage 3], Luke Plapp and Jay Vine were always on his wheel without turning. In the past, that would have frustrated Lemko, and no doubt still does.

"But you don't see him gesticulating on his bike anymore. He just drives them off the handlebars to get the best possible answer. Of course, remember Brabantspaille, there is no doubt that he has become more mentally stable.

After his victory in Liège, Evenpoel talked about his mental battle as well as his physical one after his long recovery from his crash at Lombardia. At the post-race press conference he said he felt he was "the best Lemko" not only in terms of his racing skills on the road, but also mentally and physically.

That continued in Norway, said Tom Steels, Quick Step's directeur sportif. The Belgian told Het Laatste Nieuws (opens in new tab) that the 22-year-old is also calmer and more at ease in the peloton.

"It was a mature lemko," he said. 'He didn't have the anger that used to happen sometimes. He was calm and in control. On the decisive climbs, he attacked at the right time, not too early, not too late."

"He is finding it easier and easier to hold his position. Technically and tactically, Lemko has taken a step forward this season. It's a big difference for him. He is more composed away from home now."

"He is more comfortable on the road,"

While Evenpore's mental strength and composure during the race is progress, he is also getting stronger on the bike: in the 12km, nearly 8% average Gaustastoppen summit finish, Evenpore put in his best performance of the 2022 season in terms of numbers.

He also won a sprint battle from a small group of five on stage 5. However, his finishing ability is one of his few weaknesses in the race, and this result represents a new step forward.

"I'm quite surprised," he said. 'At the beginning I thought I would be last in any group sprint. I'll probably never win a group sprint, but the effort pays off."

Lefebvre, on the other hand, said that the number of hills climbed by Evenpoel may be his best of the season, but noted that recording higher watts per kilometer is less important than actually beating the riders on the road.

"I read here and there that Lemko had his best hill climbing performance of the season. 'On Thursday he rode 6 km in 30 minutes. This is something even Tadei Pogachal could not do this year. Lemko himself also spoke about the record numbers.

"For the riders, that data is helpful but not exciting. If you don't know the exact weight, and you don't take into account race tactics, wind direction, and the parkour of the day, what value does the weight have?

"I don't give it much importance. To do better than Tadei Pogachar is to beat him in the race, and being 6.5w/kg doesn't suddenly make Evenpoel a Vuelta contender."