“Compared to Mathieu and Tadej… for a very long time I was equal” - Remco Evenepoel stars on long-awaited Tour of Flanders debut with podium finish

Remco Evenepoel’s first appearance at the Tour of Flanders ended with a podium finish, but more telling than the result itself was how long he was able to match the two riders who ultimately decided the race.

On a day shaped by repeated accelerations across the cobbles, the Belgian held his place alongside Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel deep into the decisive phase, only losing ground when the race tilted towards the explosive efforts that have come to define the Monument.

For a debut ride in Flanders, it was both confirmation of his level and a clear indication of what still separates him from victory.

Evenepoel pointed to the repeated, short accelerations as the key difference, despite feeling on terms with his rivals across much of the race. “I felt compared to Mathieu and Tadej that my really short explosive efforts are still not at the same level,” he said to Cycling Pro Net post-race. “That’s the only point where they were stronger than me... For a very long time, I was equal to them in between the climbs, but in those moments, they made the difference.”

That assessment was reflected on the road. Evenepoel repeatedly closed gaps and limited losses when the race stretched out, but each sharp acceleration on the climbs cost him a few metres that eventually became decisive.

When Pogacar made his race-winning move, and Van der Poel followed, Evenepoel was left chasing, unable to quite bridge back despite several determined efforts on the flat and in the transitions between climbs.

The foundation for that performance was laid earlier in the race, with Evenepoel highlighting the work done by his team to position him before the key sectors. “What the team did to bring me into position before the Eikenberg and also the Molenberg was amazing,” he said. “It was really hectic, but I think we managed very well.”

Soon after, however, the selection was dictated purely by legs. “Once the race opened up, the legs decided, and I think I just finished in the place that I deserved today.”

That meant third place on debut, behind Pogacar and Van der Poel, in a race where positioning, resilience and repeated efforts all played a role in shaping the outcome.

Despite the podium, Evenepoel was clear about where the gap lies and how it might be addressed in future editions. “I hope so,” he said when asked if focusing more on the Classics could close the difference. “That would be good. The luxury is that if you focus on the Tour, there is some space in between where you could focus on the Classics. Maybe that’s where we will go next year.”

For now, his first Tour of Flanders delivered both a result and a benchmark. Matching the very best for long stretches of the race, Evenepoel left with a podium and a clearer picture of what it will take to go one step further.