Watch: Pogacar and Van der Poel’s Tour of Flanders battles down the years
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Remco Evenepoel has confirmed that he will race at the 2026 Tour of Flanders.
There had been speculation online about the Olympic champion’s participation on Wednesday morning before the Belgian himself announced that he will start at the season’s second Monument in a social media post.
The 26-year-old Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe star wrote on Instagram: “Flanders, are you ready? See you on Sunday.”
Two-time Tour de France champion and TNT Sports expert Alberto Contador saiid it is “great news for the cycling world”.The 110th edition of the Tour of Flanders takes place on Sunday, April 5, with Evenepoel expected to join a stellar line-up including Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike). The one-day classic, which covers 270km of Flanders cobbles and climbs, follows last month’s Milano-Sanremo, which Pogacar won in dramatic fashion.
Evenepoel’s involvement in the race marks a major U-turn having previously insisted he would be absent from the start line to focus on the Tour of Catalonia and the climbing classics.
In a December press conference, Evenepoel said: “How certain is it that I won’t be starting in the Tour of Flanders? Very certain. 100% certain? 100% certain. Not a small chance either? No, unfortunately not. I have to disappoint you.”
Meanwhile, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe manager Ralph Denk had said that while Evenepoel would ”ride the Tour of Flanders someday”, after a ”missed spring last year, Remco now needs a consistent and stable year in his build-up to the Tour.”
Evenepoel gives update after crash and aims subtle dig at Vingegaard
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Van Aert: ‘He’d only start if he was looking for a top result’
Visma-Lease a Bike rider Van Aert has backed his compatriot to do well in Flanders.
“He’d only start if he was going to look for a top result,” Van Aert told Sporza. “He’s welcome, I think it’s great news. I hope it’s not an April Fool’s joke.
“The Tour of Flanders deserves the best possible field of participants. Remco certainly deserves to be in the mix. Am I surprised? No, I had a feeling it could happen.”
On whether Evenepoel’s involvement will make the race more difficult, Van Aert added: ”Of course, he is another competitor joining the field. If he starts, I can assume that he is doing so with big goals in mind.
“He is strong in all one-day races, so he is certainly someone to reckon with.”
How to watch the Tour of Flanders?The men’s race will be live on TNT Sports 3 and HBO Max. Coverage begins at 08:30 UK time, with the action getting underway half an hour later.Coverage of the women’s race begins at 14:00 on TNT Sports 4 and HBO Max.
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