“If Remco can stay with Pogacar on the climbs, he can beat him in a sprint" - Philippe Gilbert backs compatriot ahead of Liege-Bastogne-Liege

This Sunday, the Spring Classics for 2025 climax at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, where Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel are expected to do battle once more. According to Belgian cycling icon Philippe Gilbert, himself a winner in Liege back in 2011, Evenepoel is more than capable of not only matching Pogacar, but beating the world champion.

“Tadej Pogacar is tough to beat, especially on this course. But Remco is in great shape — he already showed that at the Brabantse Pijl and the Amstel Gold Race,” begins the 42-year-old Belgian in a pre-race preview for Sporza. “Remco may have been a little off in La Flèche Wallonne due to the cold, but Liège–Bastogne–Liège suits him better anyway.”

Evenepoel has already emerged victorious in Liege twice in his career (2022 & 2023 ed.), with Pogacar taking a duo of wins on either side (2021 & 2024 ed.). When looking at the startlist and the form of the riders, it's the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader who starts as the pre-race favourite, but as mentioned already, Gilbert is insistent that Evenepoel can indeed get the better of the Rainbow Jersey on Sunday.

“If Remco can stay with Pogacar on the climbs and they get to the finish together, then it’s all to play for. Remco can beat him in a sprint,” Gilbert analyses, despite the fact Pogacar beat Evenepoel in final sprint at the Amstel Gold Race, albeit for 2nd as Mattias Skjelmose proved quicker than both. “I think Remco launched his sprint a bit too early there. Otherwise, I believe he could have beaten Pogacar.”

“Remco does like a tough race but he doesn’t necessarily need it. I don’t think Remco’s team should try to make the race harder themselves — let UAE do that. That way, Remco can save more teammates for the final,” Gilbert concludes. “If you still have a teammate with you at the Roche-aux-Faucons, it’s not just a boost to your morale — it also helps with positioning.”