"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."

"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."