"That was always blocked" - Remco Evenepoel fully contradicts Patrick Lefevere and states he tried racing Flanders several times at Quick-Step

Remco Evenepoel has discussed his rivals, Milano-Sanremo, the why he kept the Tour of Flanders debut a secret and even talked about how he wanted to race it in the past but was not allowed by Soudal - Quick-Step- This goes against the words of his former manager Patrick Lefevere directly, who previously argued Evenepoel couldn't be convinced.

“I feel ready. I am used to riding Monuments and I won't prepare any differently," the Olympic Champion said in a press conference this afternoon. “It is a race I have wanted to ride for a long time, but that was held back a bit in the past.”

This affirmation goes in direct contradiction to what Patrick Lefevere has said earlier this week. “I told him for years that he should ride Flanders, but back then he didn’t want to,” Lefevere said in a recent interview with Het Laatste Nieuws. “Now maybe there are people around him who have more influence. It seems he has changed his mind and that someone has convinced him.”

Evenepoel says otherwise, that he was forbidden from racing Flanders several times. "I think I asked at my previous team at least three years in a row to be allowed to start. That was always blocked. They kept me on the sidelines there to focus on other goals". Whilst it is possible that the two are discussing different years, this is highly unlikely. After 2021, Quick-Step has rarely been in contention for the cobbled classics where it used to dominate in the past. And it is very likely that Evenepoel was keen on participating over the past few seasons. It opens up the debate on who is telling the truth.

"This year I pushed for it. This time, during the meetings, I said 'either I ride the Giro or the Tour'. When I knew the Giro wasn't an option, Flanders was on my schedule. And then we would wait and see how I got through the season. But I knew they wouldn't be able to talk me out of it."

However this was also not without its controversy. The decision was made in December, but Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe kept it a secret. However the criticism doesn't come from there necessarily, but due to the fact that journalists were repeatedly lied to with a clear rejection of Evenepoel's participation, all the way into the morning of the 1st of April when Evenepoel revealed it on social media.

"If we had said it was an option, it would have been a 'yes' for you anyway. We were going to wait and see how the season build-up and Catalunya went. That was the reason behind it. I know this can only happen once. From next year on, I will give my full program and there won't be much tinkering. But this was the first time, and it is a risk to start without another cobblestone race in your legs. That is why we waited as long as possible. But there really wasn't anyone who could have pulled me out to start."

"I deliberately got rid of my social media for the last two weeks before all this fuss. I was able to enjoy, in a very relaxed way, how we screwed you over," he joked. "I would have preferred to say that I would start, but Wednesday was the agreed time. That happened to be April 1st, but above all, it was a race day. That was the marketing side of things. But that won't work next year, and the intention is not to keep that a secret. Then you will know everything in December."

"I am with a team where the marketing is top-notch. It was difficult to do it differently. Were those videos my own plan? In consultation with the team and the marketing department. Everything was agreed upon."

But Paris-Roubaix isn't a secret. Although the same thing was said about Flanders... "No, no, certainly not. Maybe next year."

Now, with the likes of Gianni Vermeersch and Tim van Dijke backing him up, the Belgian has a tough but realistic task of fighting for the win in the second monument of the season, something which his own main rival Tadej Pogacar has proven to be quite possible.

"Do I feel like I can win? Otherwise, I wouldn't be starting here. During the COVID lockdown, I came here to train twice a week. In terms of course knowledge, I don't think I'm behind everyone else. If I hadn't had confidence, I wouldn't be starting here."

"Mathieu, Tadej, and Wout have already proven enough that they can win or are capable of winning here. For me, racing on this course is new. That is something different from training," he argues. But the race has become more about the climbing legs and less about the tactics, which improves his chances of performing well.

"In terms of capabilities, I can come close to them, but due to a lack of experience, I will position myself below them anyway."

"The difference is made on the climbs, and after that, you can't ride that much faster than anyone else because it's so tough. But I do draw strength from Amstel (Gold Race 2025, where he and Mattias Skjelmose caught Pogacar, ed.), even though that is a different race without cobblestones. But there are plenty of places to make a difference."

This is a highly motivated Evenepoel, who now lives in Spain but continues to frequently visit Belgium and train in the area. He had a recon ride of the bergs again in December which initially sparked the questions, and now this Thursday he and his teammates were out for a test. On a muddy Koppenberg, he still managed to climb up it, not forced to walk up the climb - which can be a risk during the race.

"Fortunately, the Koppenberg follows after something has already happened. That won't be with a full peloton anymore. The second time up the Kwaremont will be very hectic, as always, but from 140 kilometers from the finish, you have to be at the front. I am looking forward to the whole day. From waking up until – hopefully – not having to go to sleep. The fans are just going to give me an adrenaline rush."

There is the argument of it being a risky race, but it's not much of a difference when comparing to his other goals. "No, that didn't play a role for me. The team might think otherwise with an eye on Liège and the Tour, but you can crash there too. Rain is always dangerous."

Evenepoel admits that Milano-Sanremo was always also an option, one that didn't come to be due to the bad weather in Tenerife which also threatened his participation in Catalunya; and because Flanders was already chosen.

"Yes, that was an option that was on the table for a very long time. We took Sanremo off due to the bad weather in Tenerife. And I knew I would be starting here. The combination of Sanremo, Catalunya, and Flanders would have been too much."

The goal this Sunday: To win. "We can score with multiple men. That is our luxury. We are in a very good flow. But I would prefer to win myself."