Could Remco Evenepoel be set to compete in the iconic classic after all, weeks after dismissing the possibility?
Remco Evenepoel and his wife Oumaima Oumi Rayane after winning the Sportman of the Year award at the ‘Sportgala’ award show (Photo: Pool Nico Vereecken / Belga via AFP)
Published December 28, 2025 03:24PM
A year ago speculation was rife that Tadej Pogačar might be planning his debut in Paris-Roubaix, despite his team downplaying the possibility of that on the grounds it would be too dangerous.
Pogačar went on to ride the race, finishing second to Mathieu van der Poel after crashing while attacking him.
This time around big rival Remco Evenepoel is getting tongues wagging, with the recent insistence he wouldn’t ride the Tour of Flanders now under question.
The reason? Evenepoel checking out part of the race course on Sunday, clad in an anonymous black kit.
The news was broken by Het Nieuwsblad, which said that the 25 year old champion was spotted Sunday afternoon at the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg, doing those climbs at least twice. It added he was with his Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe Gianni Vermeersch, who was wearing the kit of his previous team Alpecin-Deceuninck.
Het Nieuwsblad stated that Klaas Lodewyck and Sven Vanthourenhout were also there, and that the riders had support cars with mechanics.
The story also included videos of Evenepoel and Vermeersch.
Just a training ride, or is it something more serious?
Remco Evenepoel was second in Il Lombardia 2025, but has won Liège twice, as well as Olympic and world championships titles (Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
The news appears to contradict the new Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider’s insistence that he will not make his Flanders debut in 2026.
Asked at the recent team training camp if he would line out in the classic, he was clear in his intentions.
“No,” he said then, according to Cyclingflash. “We want to have a normal season. Last year was very difficult for me because of that collision with the mail van in December 2024. That’s why we are aiming for a good season next year, one that is easy going. Without too many crazy things.
“Hopefully, I will then have a season without interruptions. What the future holds is for later. This season will be busy enough already, and that’s why we decided not to do Flanders.”
Doing a reconnaissance of the course weeks later will heighten speculation that he could yet show up on the start line.
If that does indeed happen, it would only add to the sense of anticipation about the race. Pogačar has already indicated he will attend again, having won the race in 2023 and 2025. Mathieu van der Poel is also likely to ride, and so too Wout van Aert plus other team leaders.
Having Evenepoel there would be fascinating, particularly if he can deliver on his stated intention of growing even stronger as a result of his move to his new team.