“Everybody knows La Redoute is where the race is decided...” – Remco Evenepoel signals where Tadej Pogacar must be followed in Liège

Remco Evenepoel arrives at Liège-Bastogne-Liège with a clear picture of how Sunday’s Monument is likely to unfold, mapping out both where the race will open and where it will ultimately be decided.

Speaking in conversation with Cycling Pro Net ahead of the start, the Belgian expects the intensity to build well before the decisive climbs.

“I just hope it will be pretty hard once we hit the first climb,” he explained. “From around 94 kilometres to go, the race should start to get harder and open up.”

That gradual increase in pressure typically funnels the race towards its defining moment on La Redoute, a point Evenepoel believes will once again prove decisive. “Everybody knows La Redoute is usually where the race is decided… I don’t really see another scenario this year.”

Evenepoel’s connection to the race goes beyond results. “Yeah, I don’t know. It feels like here in Wallonia there are always a lot of fans of mine,” he said. “I also like this area a lot to race and to train, so I think maybe it’s a bit of a combination.”

That familiarity with the roads and conditions is often seen as an advantage in a race where positioning and local knowledge can prove decisive.

His preparation has been deliberately structured following his Amstel Gold Race victory, with a clear focus on arriving fresh for Liège. “Of course Monday and Tuesday I had two really easy days. Then Wednesday I rode a little bit more, but not at high intensity. That’s why we wanted to skip Flèche. Then Thursday I had the last good intensity training. So normally everything should be good to go for tomorrow.”

That decision to skip Flèche Wallonne was part of a wider plan to prioritise condition for the longer and more demanding Monument.

That familiar pattern brings the focus back to Tadej Pogacar, whose attacks on La Redoute have shaped the modern race. For Evenepoel, the key is not just the climb itself, but being in position when the decisive move comes. “After that, it’s up to me to have the legs, race smart, and try to go for it.”

With riders like Paul Seixas also entering the equation, the question of who can respond at that moment is expected to define the race.

Conditions could also influence how that moment plays out. “Yeah, exactly. I think the only part of proper tailwind is going to be after that, and then we’ll have tailwind for a while, so that part should be pretty fast.”

With more of a headwind expected elsewhere in the finale, timing and positioning could become even more critical in the lead-up to the decisive climb.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège remains one of the most demanding races on the calendar, but its outcome often comes down to a single, well-timed move.

Evenepoel has already made clear where that moment is likely to come. The question now is who will be able to respond when it does.