"Remco might well have the strongest team" - Tom Boonen argues Evenepoel may have Flanders' best supporting crew at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe will be the ultimate wildcard at the upcoming Tour of Flanders. The team already had strong figures such as Gianni Vermeersch and Tim van Dijke lining up, however not riders who can challenge the likes of Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel. However with the addition of Remco Evenepoel to the lineup, everything changes.

“I think it is very sensible that he is participating. Remco made a big secret of the fact that he would be starting. But he never made a big secret of the fact that he was keen on that race," Tom Boonen argued on the Wielerclub Wattage podcast.

The decision was made back in December and ever since, Evenepoel had 'De Ronde' in mind as a goal, keeping it private. It was possible to put the pieces together, however this was most likely done to shrug away the pressure from the Olympic Champion, who has for years been anticipated to make his debut in what is essentially a home race.

Boonen, a rider who has crossed the finish line three times as the winner, is thrilled that one of the spring's top races has gained a new top face. "I think it is fantastic that Remco will be there on Sunday. I certainly think he is a podium contender, a potential crowd-pleaser, and a potential winner.”

And Evenepoel is not a rider who should be underestimated, even within the context of his debut. Tadej Pogacar has battled for the win at both Tour of Flanders and the more luck-based Paris-Roubaix, proving that even the lack of experience may not be an obstacle at all for the Belgian.

But of course, these races do require very good positioning skills, good tactics and quick decision-making. “The first time at Flanders is always a bit hectic. But it’s not as if that race is all that different from other races. Remco just needs to start at his own pace and try to keep up.”

However the race is decided on climbs such as the Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg - and of course, the sequence of many all-out efforts which make the race so brutal, with the 278 kilometers also to weight in the legs by the end.

But backing him up is a strong team consisting of all talented and also experienced classics riders, some of them who have been on tremendous form this spring.

“Remco might well have the strongest team on Sunday. The team is now getting the leader they’ve been missing a bit in recent weeks. Tim van Dijke, Gianni Vermeersch…"

"They are all fantastic riders, but not at the level of those big two or three (he refers to Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout Van Aert, ed.) in the classics. With Evenepoel, the team now has a rider who can place himself alongside those 'big three' on Sunday. The riders will feel like they have something to ride for.”