'I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could win' - Evenepoel bullish before Flanders debut

The upcoming Tour of Flanders has been billed as a race with one of the strongest start lists in recent times, with Evenepoel, Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen all set to appear on the same start line for only the third time, following the UCI Road World Championships in 2021 (Leuven), and 2023 (Glasgow).

Evenepoel credited the current shape of his rivals, and tempered his own expectations due to his lack of racing experience on the cobbles.

“Mathieu, Tadej, and Wout have already proven enough that they can win or are capable of winning here. For me, racing on this course is new,” Evenepoel said, according to Sporza.

“That is something different from training. In terms of capabilities, I can come close to them, but due to a lack of experience, I will place myself below them regardless.”

The Olympic champion also stated that he had asked to start the Tour of Flanders during his final three seasons with Soudal Quick-Step, and that for this season, he wanted to start in either the Ronde or the Giro d’Italia alongside the Tour de France.

"That was always blocked. This year, I said during the meetings: either the Giro or the Tour of Flanders,” explained Evenepoel. "When I knew the Giro wasn't an option, Flanders was on my schedule. And then we would wait and see how I got through the season. But I knew they wouldn't be able to talk me out of it."

Asked about the late announcement and the media storm that came with it, Evenepoel said: “I deliberately took a break from social media for the last two weeks before all this fuss. I was able to sit back and enjoy seeing how we’ve got the better of you.”

However, Evenepoel admitted that he would have preferred for the announcement to have come sooner, and confirmed that there will be no punches pulled when it comes to his schedule next season.

"I would have preferred to say that I would start, but Wednesday was the agreed time,” said Evenepoel. “I know this can only happen once. Starting next year, I will give my full programme, and there won't be much tinkering.”

The Ronde will mark Evenepoel’s first head-to-head of the season with Pogačar, the defending champion and pre-race favourite. Evenepoel was asked if he believes he can follow the world champion on the Kwaremont, where he made his race-winning moves in 2023 and 2025.

"We'll see. Everything depends on how I feel in general. But the best thing you can do is attack. It is difficult to pass there,” said Evenepoel, who downplayed the idea that an in-race alliance with Pogačar was a possibility. 

"No... Everyone wants to win. Then it is difficult to ride against someone. In finales, it is man against man, and the strongest will win. I don't think allies need to be sought. Here, the strongest always rides away."

Asked to outline his ambitions for the Ronde, Evenepoel was clear. “I wouldn’t be starting if I didn’t think I could win,” he said.