'He has the capacity' - Museeuw backs Evenepoel Classics tilt but warns of Pogacar obstacle

Belgian cycling legend, Johan Museeuw, believes Remco Evenepoel has "the capacity" to win all the one-day races, but acknowledged the difficulty in doing so against the seemingly irresistible force that is Tadej Pogačar.

Speaking to Domestique at Rouleur Live on Friday, the 1996 World Champion was asked to assess the current generation of cyclists compared to his era, and he highlighted how a select few riders now dominate the biggest races.

"Another generation than it was in my generation, so now it's difficult because some riders win the races. That's, of course, [Tadej] Pogačar and Wout van Aert, [Mathieu] van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel and these guys," said Museeuw to Domestique.

Though Museeuw acknowledged that there can be a lack of tension in races won with long-range solo efforts by the likes of Pogačar, he admitted that he is able to view and appreciate current racing in his own way, a generation different to his own. 

"That's what cycling is for the moment, so okay, there's not really a suspense, but I see it in another way, for me it's a suspense, and it will stay a couple of years like that I think, so long as Pogačar is there, he will win the Tour de France and other races,” added Museeuw. “So yeah, it’s another cycling, then in my generation, totally.”

Museeuw, known as 'The Lion of Flanders', expressed confidence in his compatriot's abilities when asked about Evenepoel’s prospects in the Classics in 2026 and beyond, but also acknowledged the challenge of coming up against Tadej Pogačar. 

“You have to make the decision if he wants to do classic races or not. For the moment, he wants to win the Tour de France. Okay, he already won the Vuelta [a España], and last year he was third at the Tour de France,” said Museeuw.

"He has the capacity to do it, but as I said before, as long as Pogačar is there, it will not be so easy. But he can win all the one-day races and of course, all the chrono [time trial] races," said Museeuw, with Evenepoel having to settle for 2nd place behind the Slovenian phenomenon at the World and European Road Race Championships as well as Il Lombardia, in the closing month of the 2025 season.

Museeuw also credited Evenepoel's time trial prowess, where he is the Olympic, European, and Belgian Champion as well as three-time defending World Champion, in a discipline he has already accumulated 23 victories in his career. 

Despite having started eight monument races throughout his career, Evenepoel has yet to make an appearance at Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, races where Museeuw excelled, having won three editions each of Flanders and Roubaix, earning him his iconic nickname.

With Evenepoel's 2026 schedule still undecided, the triple time trial World Champion has hinted at potentially expanding beyond just his Grand Tour ambitions into one-day races.

While the Tour de France remains his primary target, his success at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2022 and 2023 and Road Race World Championships victory in Wollongong, Australia, in 2022 demonstrates his potential in one-day races.

Interestingly, there have even been rumours of a potential Tour of Flanders debut for the Belgian star for next season, and there have even been talks of a Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double as a possible option for Evenepoel's schedule in 2026.

Museeuw highlighted the difficulty of balancing goals and preparations with both the Tour de France and Classics.

"Yeah, it's not so easy to make a decision now if you do classic races or if you just count on the Tour de France," added Museeuw.

Evenepoel himself has acknowledged both his interest and the challenges of balancing Grand Tour preparations with one-day racing ambitions. 

Speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws recently, Evenepoel said, “Even with a Giro-Tour combo, something is possible in terms of one-day racing, but then the margin for error is smaller. But just as long as it doesn't come at the expense of the ideal route to the Tour."

If Evenepoel is to make some appearances at the Classics in 2026, beyond Liège and embark on some new races such as the Tour of Flanders, he will be a worthy addition.