Tadej Pogacar on Evenepoel: "Remco could do a very good San Remo, even Roubaix"

Tadej Pogacar is racing Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix next spring, that can be given as a certain as the World Champion has expressed his desire to race both monuments again in 2026. He finished on the podium of both last spring, but hasn't added either to his palmarès yet, and he believes that next spring he could see Remco Evenepoel battle him out also in both of those.

"I think Remco could do a very good San Remo, even Roubaix and races like this," Pogacar told Cyclingnews and other news outlets in a recent event at Gran Canaria. "I think he can manage himself really well, and it would be an additional big competitor if he comes to San Remo, for example – one more rider to look at. If he decides to come, it will be difficult, once again, difficult to win."

Evenepoel is an exceptional classics specialist, currently the Olympic road race champion and runner-up at the World, European Championships and Il Lombardia where he was second to the Slovenian last fall. He is a man with a strong record in the one-day races including two Liège-Bastogne-Liège victories, however besides Liège and Lombardia, he has never raced a monument surprisingly.

Paris-Roubaix is perhaps too much of a risk for little reward for a rider of his weight - more so now, with Quick-Step once again signing riders to perform in the cobbled classics - but both Sanremo and Flanders are viable options towards his schedule. A Sanremo debut is almost certain for his debut year with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, but Flanders would largely depend on if he rides the Giro d'Italia or not.

However performance-wise, there's no reason to believe he couldn't perform strongly in either. Sanremo's decisive move was on the Cipressa last year with the race becoming more and more influenced by climber tactics due to Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates - XRG; whilst the Tour of Flanders now has a small tactical factor as well with riders such as Pogacar and van der Poel dominating recent editions purely on climbing ability. Hence, the lack of experience would likely not affect Evenepoel the same way it would affect a debutant 10 years ago, as the decisive attacks are likely to start in the penultimate ascent of the Oude Kwaremont.

As for Pogacar, the ideas are clear, and they will be discussed in the team's upcoming training camp in Benidorm, Spain. "We didn't decide the calendar yet – at December training camp with the team, we will speak more about the program and race calendar". On the 13th of December, the team's riders will talk to the media and make it public what their schedules and ambitions are.

"But my wish list for next year, for sure, is to go back to San Remo and Roubaix and try to compete for the victory there again".