Remco Evenepoel reportedly set for Red Bull debut at Milano-Sanremo 2026 – but he won’t be given team leadership

Remco Evenepoel’s debut season in Red Bull – BORA hansgrohe colours looks set to open with a surprise twist, as La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Belgian superstar is expected to take on Milano-Sanremo for the first time in his career.

The Italian outlet’s well-connected journalist Ciro Scognamiglio claims multiple sources have confirmed Evenepoel is pencilled in for La Primavera on 21 March 2026, marking his maiden appearance in the first Monument of the year.

If the report proves accurate, it would be one of the most intriguing early-season moves from the newly restructured Red Bull project. Evenepoel has spoken in recent months about maintaining flexibility in his 2026 schedule, but Milano-Sanremo had never been mentioned publicly as a firm option.

His attributes — explosive climbing, long-range attacking and top-end endurance — have often fuelled speculation about how he might fare over the Poggio, but the Monument has so far remained absent from his programme.

Perhaps the most striking detail from Gazzetta’s report is that Evenepoel is not expected to lead the team. Instead, the leadership mantle would go to fellow Belgian Maxim Van Gils, who finished seventh in the race in 2024 and has steadily built a reputation as one of the peloton’s most versatile puncheurs.

Red Bull – BORA - hansgrohe appear keen to give Van Gils a clear shot at the win, with Evenepoel playing a supporting role in what would be the team’s first appearance at the Monument under its new identity.

For a rider accustomed to carrying leadership expectations at virtually every race he enters, starting Milano-Sanremo as a luxury domestique adds an unexpected layer to Red Bull’s early-season dynamics.

Evenepoel has repeatedly stressed that his 2026 schedule will hinge on the shape of the Giro d’Italia route, which will be unveiled on 1 December. He recently told HLN that two draft calendars remain under discussion: a traditional cobbled-Classics-and-Tour option, and an alternative combining the Giro and Tour de France.

If Gazzetta’s report is accurate, Milano-Sanremo could serve as a crossroads between the two: a chance to test his form early, assess how he responds to the Monument’s unique rhythm, and refine Red Bull’s hierarchy before the stage-race season intensifies.

Either way, Evenepoel taking on La Primavera for the first time — and doing so without team leadership — ensures that the 2026 edition already carries a compelling narrative before the peloton even reaches the Ligurian coast.