“Now I know why he took it easy in Catalunya...” - Visma DS reacts to news of Remco Evenepoel's Tour of Flanders debut
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel’s confirmed debut at the Tour of Flanders has added another name to an already tight group of contenders, and from within Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the reaction has been measured rather than alarmed.
Grischa Niermann greeted the news with a light remark that reached back to last week’s Volta a Catalunya, where Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard spent the week on opposite sides of the race dynamic. “My first thought was that I know why he took it easy in Catalunya... No, my first thought was I will call Jonas now that he comes here,” Niermann joked in comments collected by Domestique.
The reference lands against the backdrop of Evenepoel’s comments at the race, where he pointed to a familiar pattern. “Jonas rode very defensively again, like he has all week. There was nothing I could do about that,” he said after the final stage in Barcelona.
Behind the humour sat a more straightforward assessment. Evenepoel’s presence does not change the nature of the race, but it does add another rider capable of shaping it. “No, it’s good for us if another strong guy comes there,” Niermann said. “It’s another card that plays a role, so I think it’s a good thing.”
A different race to learn
For all the acknowledgement of Evenepoel’s level, Niermann also pointed to the specific demands of the Tour of Flanders, separating it clearly from the terrain where the Belgian has built most of his results. “I think it will be a new experience for Remco because this race for sure is different than other races.”
The expectation from within Visma is not that Evenepoel will struggle physically, but that the race itself presents a different challenge. Positioning, rhythm and constant pressure through the peloton are as decisive as raw strength. “If he can manage to handle himself in the hectic, he will be there in the final.”
That line captures the balance around Evenepoel’s debut. The level is not in doubt, but the race will decide how much of it he can use.
His arrival also shifts the wider picture slightly. With Wout van Aert already carrying expectation and now another Belgian added to the mix, the race opens up rather than narrows. For Visma, that is not a problem to manage, but another factor to account for.
Evenepoel’s first start at the Tour of Flanders brings a new variable into the race. Whether it becomes a decisive one will depend less on what he has already shown, and more on how he handles what is still new.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- Right on. The more the merrier.Occam13-11-2026
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- what did Jonas gift and to whom? just curious, haven’t heard about this.mij13-11-2026
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Front24213-11-2026 - Exactly you said it urslf - he outclimbed del toro by 19 sec. 19SEC and you say hes alot better than del toro still lol? And can also do the same where del toro did that to jonas even and del toro dauphine numbers better than jonas all year so why this hard whats the issue its super easy stuff - del toro wasnt that before. Then factor in both their trajectory the last years and the answer is self explonatory like i said. Nothing against jonas like many do but the typing is no the wall and so stupidly easy as its so self explanatory now. Have a good daymiguel13-11-2026
- Dirty ex doperFront24213-11-2026
- As far as points go they need to take a page or ten out of the Astana playbook!Lozza13-11-2026
- Ah, seems he’s been busy elsewhere! 😆Lozza13-11-2026
- Where is he when you need him!? Wake up man! You’re missing an opportunity!Lozza13-11-2026
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