"Remco was one of the options" - Andorra Cycling Masters almost had more star power alongside Pogacar, Vingegaard, Roglic & Del Toro
Cycling
Next Sunday, Andorra will host the first edition of the Andorra Cycling Masters, an unprecedented event that will bring together just four of the world's top cycling names: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Isaac Del Toro. But one question inevitably arises: why won't Remco Evenepoel be there?
A new concept for modern cycling
The small Pyrenean principality is preparing to host a unique experience. The Andorra Cycling Masters will combine a mountain time trial with an urban criterium in the heart of Andorra la Vella, creating an innovative format that promises to offer "an appetizer of the cycling of the future".
The organization has managed to attract the best the world peloton has to offer: world champion Tadej Pogacar, two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard, 2025 cycling sensation Isaac Del Toro and four-time Vuelta a Espana winner Primoz Roglic.
Remco Evenepoel's absence
Remco Evenepoel's name was naturally on the table. "Remco was one of the options," admitted Betim Budzaku, one of the mentors of the event. "We had already drawn up a list of the main riders in the peloton about a year and a half ago. Above all, we wanted to guarantee the presence of Tadej Pogacar, the best cyclist in the world."
"They were the first to confirm their presence," Budzaku explained.
As for the Belgian's absence, the reason is simple: "For Evenepoel, it didn't fit in with his planning. But if this first edition is a success, we want to repeat the event next year with other names. We'd love to have Remco back then."
The organizer also left a note of appreciation for the Belgian tradition: "Belgium has a huge cycling culture, much thanks to the achievements of Eddy Merckx. So it would be especially important to have Remco at the start in Andorra."
The Andorra Cycling Masters aims to go beyond a simple sporting spectacle. According to Budzaku, the event will be accompanied by a 50-minute documentary showing behind the scenes of the race. "We want to show more than the competitive side. The public will see how the cyclists arrive with their families and how they prepare for the event."
The series will be available on a streaming platform, "the name of which cannot yet be revealed", the organizer confided.
Remco Evenepoel is the big absentee from the 1st edition of the Andorra Cycling Masters
Two tests in one day
The competitive program kicks off on Sunday at 9 a.m. with a mountain time trial in Coll de la Gallina, one of Andorra's most emblematic climbs. Shortly afterwards, at 11 a.m., the four cyclists will compete in a 32-kilometer critérium in the principality's largest shopping center.
The criterium format provides for sprints every lap (15 in total) to award points. The final classification will result from the sum of the time trial times and the points earned in the criterium.
"Fortunately I'm not the one who has to do the math," joked Budzaku. "That's up to the Unipublic team, which also organizes the Vuelta a Espana."
But the main focus is not on the accounts. "The winner is mainly symbolic. What we want is to create a spectacular cycling show that, through the documentary, can reach an even wider audience."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
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