Sunday evening, after the Catalonia Tour which he had finished in fifth place, it had been categorically confirmed that Remco Evenepoel would not participate in the Tour of Flanders. But that won't be the case. On Thursday, the two-time Olympic champion will conduct a reconnaissance of the final section of the course with six other teammates from Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe and, if all goes well, the German team will announce his presence in Sunday's Ronde. A great debut, a great novelty, right at Easter: among the Monuments, so far Evenepoel has only raced Liège-Bastogne-Liège (three participations and two victories) and the Giro di Lombardia (5 times: second in 2024 and 2025, always beaten by Pogacar). Timing will also matter: Sunday won't be a summer day, but it will certainly be dry. A great Belgian like Philippe Gilbert, king of Flanders in 2017, is encouraging him: "Remco, you're in brilliant form, Bora needs you". And so, at the start from Antwerp, there will be the four phenomena of cycling: Pogacar, Van der Poel, Van Aert and Evenepoel.

During the winter there had already been talk of a possible debut by Evenepoel at Flanders, but he himself had denied it during the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe media day. After two seasons marked by crashes, he wanted a normal year, without risks, while participation in the Flemish classic fell into this latter category.

But nothing is as unpredictable as cycling and especially its schedules. After a training camp at altitude on Tenerife's Teide and the Catalonia Tour (fifth overall), the Olympic champion moved to Belgium for a few days of rest, and after Easter he will return to Spain to prepare for his beloved Ardennes classics. "I think there's more to gain there than in Flanders," he had said.

In the meantime, Evenepoel's plans have indeed changed. It should not be forgotten that with teammate Gianni Vermeersch he was seen during the winter between Christmas and New Year training on the Old Kwaremont, the historic Wall of Flanders, and on the Paterberg, the last terrible cobbled climb. "That was just a training session, Remco lives not far from Geraardsbergen (the town where the Muur is, ed.) and we met up for a bike ride," said Vermeersch. A significant detail: that day, the two riders, who had practiced the climbs twice, were assisted by sports directors Sven Vanthourenhout and Klaas Lodewyck. In other words: it wasn't just a simple winter training session.

UPDATE AT 12:45 PM. Remco Evenepoel's "yes" to the Tour of Flanders is practically certain: sources close to the German team and the race organization confirm it, Belgian media confirm it—which is, it's easy to understand, particularly excited about the subject. The Belgian will thus make his official debut in the Ronde and will do so in a race that promises to be highly spectacular.

UPDATE AT 2:15 PM. The official statement from Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe arrives at 2:15 PM: «On Easter Sunday, Remco Evenepoel will line up for the first time at the start of his "home Monument". From Antwerp, a new chapter begins: 278 kilometers, 12 climbs and six cobbled sectors until Oudenaarde – a race that in Belgium is not just raced, but lived. For over a century, the Tour of Flanders has shaped cycling in Flanders. For generations of fans, it represents the emotional peak of the season.

«Now, Remco Evenepoel becomes part of this story. This project has carried significant weight within the team and has been carefully prepared over a long period. The bond between Remco and the Tour of Flanders is deep and emotional. A plan like this doesn't materialize overnight. We deliberately kept it secret to create a special moment for the fans, revealing it as a surprise on April 1st. The fact that we managed to keep the secret for over 100 days is a testament to the cohesion and unity of this team» explained Ralph Denk.

Remco Evenepoel will be supported in Flanders by a team specialized in Classics, well prepared. The provisional lineup includes Mick and Tim van Dijke, Gianni Vermeersch, Laurence Pithie, as well as Jan Tratnik and Jarrad Drizners. And a press conference has been scheduled for Friday, April 3rd at the Monte Marcella Resort in Ledegem.