Why unleashing Remco Evenepoel in the Tour of Flanders makes total sense

Since his blockbuster transfer last year, the Tour de France has sat at the centre of everything. In the weeks leading up to his 2026 programme announcement, Evenepoel outlined two options. Plan A focused on “La Grande Boucle” with a selection of Classics, briefly raising hopes of appearances at Milan Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders. Plan B was a Giro and Tour double.

He ultimately chose Plan A, albeit in a more stripped back form than many expected, with only the Ardennes Classics included.

That decision was deliberate. “It’s a new team and a new environment for me, so this year we should try to get through a normal season. Last year I missed five or six months because of a crash, so this year I just want a normal season without problems,” Evenepoel explained, referring to his relatively light programme.

After the crash at the Volta a Catalunya, there was even more reason for caution. Klaas Lodewyck admitted the impact was significant, while Ralph Denk pointed to the physical toll. The approach remained unchanged: stay on track, avoid unnecessary risks and build towards July.

But in the space of 48 hours, that approach shifted. What once appeared to be a firm decision has now been reversed, with the Olympic champion set to line up in Antwerp on Sunday.

And whether it was part of the original plan or not, the case for Evenepoel riding the Ronde is now clear.

First of all, he wants to. And that should count for something.

For a Belgian, the Tour of Flanders is something different. From his perspective, it is the biggest one day race he has not won, and one of the few that still sits outside his palmarès.  It is no coincidence that Wout van Aert has made it a central goal of his career to win it.

Evenepoel might even have a stronger chance to become the first Belgian since Philippe Gilbert (2017) to win it. The race is evolving towards efforts that favour lighter riders. Explosivity is still required, but that is something he has developed more and more in recent seasons.

The timing makes it even more interesting. His start to the season was strong with wins early on, but the UAE Tour did not go as planned. Then came the altitude camp, a clear step forward in form, followed by the crash in Catalunya just as he was building toward something better. He showed glimpses, but never really got to express his level. 

With Evenepoel, that usually leads to hunger, not restraint

That also ties into the main concern that has followed him for years: positioning. It used to be the biggest argument against him in races like this, but that is slowly changing. He is improving, and at the same time, the race itself is evolving.

The Tour of Flanders is now less about one decisive moment and more about sustained pressure over time. That makes positioning slightly less decisive than in races like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad or E3 Saxo Classic, where narrow climbs such as the Molenberg or Taaienberg can define everything in seconds.

Even without a direct reference from a Flemish classic, there are useful comparisons. In the Brabantse Pijl last year, he handled steep cobbled climbs and beat Van Aert in a two-up sprint. That effort, especially on the Moskesstraat, is not far removed from what the Ronde demands.

From there, the step to the Oude Kwaremont does not feel unrealistic. If anything, the longer effort and steadier gradient should suit him even better. Where riders like Mathieu van der Poel, Van Aert and Mads Pedersen have struggled to follow Pogačar on that climb, Evenepoel might have the profile to get closer.

The calendar does not really stand in the way either, which only adds to the case. 

Between the UAE Tour and the Volta a Catalunya, Evenepoel went on an altitude camp. So now, after Catalunya, the Belgian will just be at home, training. 

In other words, there's room in his calendar for him to add this race to his schedule. The fact that the Tour of Flanders takes place exactly one week after Catalunya also makes perfect sense, as he'll have some nice compensation in the legs after a very tough week in Spain.

It also doesn't jeopardize the rest of his calendar, as he'll have two weeks to prepare for the Amstel Gold Race afterwards. Pogačar, although he is an exception, has proven that this combination is possible. Last year, with the addition of Paris-Roubaix to his schedule, he visibly suffered in the Amstel Gold Race.  He then also skips the Dutch race this year. However, that is not an issue for the Belgian, as Paris-Roubaix definitely is out of the question.

And finally, there is the team context. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe brings a strong and balanced squad to Flanders. But there is a difference between having options and having a clear leader.

Without Evenepoel, the team is aiming for a good (top-10) result with riders like Vermeersch, Pithie, the Van Dijke brothers and Tratnik. With him, they are racing to win. That changes the dynamics of a team and how a race is approached, how decisions are made and how rivals will respond.

None of this means the original plan was wrong. The long-term vision still matters, and building towards the Tour de France remains easy to justify.

But cycling careers are not built on patience alone. They are also defined by moments when form, motivation and opportunity come together.

This is one of those moments.