However it might not be a coincidence, and the plans to ride Flanders may just be kept private in order to lower the amount of questions and pressure from the outside. There are clear cases of this such as Wout van Aert’s cyclocross world championships and Tadej Pogacar’s Paris-Roubaix debut in 2025, decisions that looked to be taken weeks in advance, but only shared when it had already became undeniable. Could Evenepoel be in the same situation?
Whilst Vermeersch does provide some guarantees, there won’t be a discussion on whether Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe can win the race if Evenepoel is not at the start. The tactical aspect of the cobbled classics has been fading over the year, specially with the rise of riders like Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar and Mads Pedersen who have made light work out of any off-road sector last spring, a level above the competition in almost every race.