"We immediately realized we were riding for third place": Red Bull BORA director reflects on Remco Evenepoel's chaotic Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Remco Evenepoel played a major role in a chaotic edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday, ultimately battling to a third-place finish. The Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe leader surprised everyone by infiltrating a massive early breakaway, only to be dropped later by Tadej Pogacar and Paul Seixas on the iconic Côte de la Redoute. Despite missing out on the victory, team director Klaas Lodewyck broke down the tactical decisions made during the race and praised Evenepoel for capping off a successful spring classics campaign.

A quiet opening phase was completely out of the question in this year's edition of La Doyenne. Right after the start, Evenepoel "accidentally" slipped into a massive leading group of fifty riders, forcing his team car to quickly adapt their strategy on the fly.

"First we thought it was about twenty riders, but Remco indicated that there were more than forty," Lodewyck recalled about the confusing early kilometers in words to Wieler Flits. "Nico [Denz] was also there and there was no immediate reaction in the peloton, so we decided to wait and see how the situation would develop."

The Belgian team director admitted the massive gap the group established was entirely unplanned and caught the peloton off guard. "At that moment, no one actually expected that group to take such a big lead. They actually rode away a bit unexpectedly."

While Evenepoel undoubtedly spent some energy in that early move, Lodewyck instructed his star rider over the radio to stay as calm as possible and save his legs. "Whether that situation at the beginning of the race cost him something towards the finale is hard to say. We will have to analyze that later. But to say now that it cost the victory is probably too simple," Lodewyck noted.

When the race reached its traditional boiling point on the Côte de la Redoute, Evenepoel was just unable to follow the explosive attack launched by Tadej Pogacar and Paul Seixas. Lodewyck admitted he didn't expect his leader to be distanced so quickly, but the sheer speed of the leading duo was too much for him.

"Remco indicated that he couldn't follow the best, but the way those two rode away was impressive," Lodewyck explained. "I have no view on what time was ridden there, but it certainly looked very impressive. So did I expect that? Not really, but the way they ride up there... in hindsight, yes."

Once Pogacar and Seixas established their advantage, the tactical reality of the race set in for Evenepoel and his sports directors. "They immediately opened a gap, and then you know that in the chasing group they will look at each other. And at that moment you actually immediately realize: we are riding for third place."

Evenepoel successfully managed to secure that third spot on the podium, officially marking the end of his spring classics season. While finishing third in a monument he has previously dominated might feel like a disappointment, Lodewyck stressed the importance of looking at the bigger picture of Evenepoel's recent results.

"We might look at that third place now as if it's a big loss, but ultimately: podium in Flanders, won Amstel, and today podium again, that is a very successful period."