What’s behind Remco Evenepoel’s shock Tour of Flanders debut - and what it tells us about the season to come
The Belgian’s decision to make his long-awaited debut at the Monument is significant not just for his career and for Belgian cycling, but for what it means for the season as a whole
After months of flat-out denial came the announcement that turned out to not be an April Fool’s joke: Remco Evenepoel will make his debut at the Tour of Flanders. The Belgian superstar, the nation’s great cycling hope, will have even more pressure weighing on his shoulders as he takes to the start line on Sunday. The decision was surprising on multiple levels, but also makes perfect sense.
Evenepoel is of course Belgian and lives not far from the route; this is the single biggest Belgian one-day race. “The connection between Remco and the Tour of Flanders is deep and emotional,” his team boss, Ralph Denk, said when the news was announced. It has not been won by a Belgian since Philippe Gilbert in 2017.
As his team’s assistant sporting director Sven Vanthourenhout said: “He can make history here. That’s what Remco thrives on, but he can make it happen too. ” There was a hint of what was to come when he told Eurosport in February: “When I was little, the only races I watched were [Tour of] Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and the Tour de France”.
The profile of Paris-Roubaix does not suit him – but Flanders could. He has already won Liege-Bastogne-Liege twice and usually focuses on the Ardennes Classics later in the spring, and a tilt at Flanders would carry him nicely into the fourth Monument of the season. And the 26-year-old is in need of a result having been foiled at various points throughout his year so far.
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