Great expectations, big ego - but in the shadow of Pogacar

Stefan Tabeling, dpa

Remco Evenepoel leaves nothing to chance. He has decided to forgo the tough Flèche Wallonne, as the double Olympic champion does not want to lose out to world champion Tadej Pogacar again in the spring classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday. Will it help?

Apart from the time trials, Evenepoel has not been able to finish ahead of the industry's biggest star in any one-day race for three years. Pogacar even finished ten of these twelve races - from the World Championships and European Championships to the Classics - as the winner. He was also vastly superior to Evenepoel at the Tour de France in the last two years.

Pogacar victories as an "incentive"

This is difficult for the Belgian cycling star with the big ego to accept. "It's an incentive," Evenepoel recently told the Italian newspaper "Gazzetta dello Sport" and emphasised: "I want to achieve the best version of myself that I've ever seen - and that hasn't yet been seen. On the bike and as a person. I still have a lot to learn. I believe I have great potential for development."

The German Red Bull team spent a lot of money on Evenepoel before the season. According to media reports, there is talk of a total of 20 million euros over three years, which would make the 26-year-old the top earner in cycling right behind Pogacar. With seven wins this season, Evenepoel has already paid something back, winning the Amstel Gold Race last weekend - in the absence of Pogacar.

Tour dream utopian?

Nevertheless, Red Bull is thinking in other dimensions. The Tour de France is the big goal. However, the experts doubt that Evenepoel will ever have what it takes to win the Tour. "He has all the pieces of the puzzle, just not this one. He's missing something in the high mountains. To be honest, I don't think he can win the Tour at the moment," said former Tour champion Andy Schleck.

Jens Voigt has a similar view. "Remco is a very talented racer, but three stages in a row in the high mountains - I don't think that's for him. That's where Florian Lipowitz has his strengths," the 17-time Tour participant told the German Press Agency.

Might Evenepoel have to provide assistance in the mountains for his German team-mate - Lipowitz finished third in the Tour last year? If so, the Belgian would be the most expensive noble domestique in cycling history.

This scenario has already materialised at the Tour of Catalonia, but would he also submit on the big stage? "I think so. He'll be a bit unhappy and grit his teeth. But I think he's sensible and mature enough to say: 'Ok, I'm in the second row now and I'm a helper now'," said Voigt. The Red Bull team initially wants to go into the Tour with both riders as a double lead-out.

Voigt: "Or he shouts around and goes home"

Nevertheless, the Eurosport expert finds the signing of Evenepoel "logical". When the contracts were finalised, it was not yet clear that Lipowitz would finish third in the Tour. And Evenepoel is worth the money because he is "always spectacular and interesting", says Voigt, who nevertheless sees potential for tension: "Remco is always hot or cold. Either he rides for the win or he screams and goes home. He rarely finishes 15th."

In Belgium, Evenepoel was once regarded as the talent of the century, the new Eddy Merckx. After all, he had an exciting CV. At the age of 16, he was still playing for the Belgian junior football team. And he ran the half marathon in a remarkable 1:13 hours before turning to cycling. The expectations at home are huge.

Third victory in Liège beckons

He can now deal with it. "I've been cycling professionally for seven or eight years now, and that helps. I was already the centre of attention when I made my debut, but now the pressure and expectations are no longer a problem," said Evenepoel.

On Sunday in Liège, it should work out for the third time - this time in a direct duel with Pogacar. The Tour champion was absent from the first victory in 2022 due to a bereavement in his partner's family, and a year later the Slovenian was forced to retire early after a fall with a broken navicular bone.

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