"Remco would have been better off riding La Fleche Wallone" - Jan Bakelants doubts Evenepoel's chances of victory at Liege-Bastogne-Liege

Looking to defend his Liege-Bastogne-Liege win from last year, Remco Evenepoel will arrive at the startline without having race competitively since the Volta a Catalunya something that Jan Bakelants feels could be a mistake.

"I think Remco would have been better off riding the Walloon Arrow to unblock his legs," says Jan Bakelants on Sporza's Wielerclub Wattage podcast. "Remco is a super champion and has enormous potential. But if you have just returned from an altitude training camp, it is not certain that you will immediately be at the top level."

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"I would be very insecure to be at the start of Liège-Bastogne-Liège with only training kilometres," Bakelants podcast partner Tom Boonen agrees. "Especially because Liège is a goal in itself for Evenepoel. But I admire that he dares to do that," he adds.

Evenepoel will begin the race as one of the favourites for victory although the all-conquering Tadej Pogacar could prove a tricky test to overcome. "Next year Evenepoel will perhaps ride the 3 climbing classics for the first time: the Amstel Gold Race, the Walloon Arrow and Liège-Bastogne-Liège," Bakelants believes. "But before he will focus on Flemish races, I think he will want to close many other gaps on his honors list."

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