“We shouldn’t be surprised if he struggles in the final hour” – Remco Evenepoel questions Paul Seixas as he names Tadej Pogacar clear Liège favourite

Remco Evenepoel arrives at Liège-Bastogne-Liège with clarity over where the race stands. In his view, the hierarchy is obvious. Tadej Pogacar is the man to beat, while the hype surrounding Paul Seixas comes with a warning.

“I don’t think that’s really a question. Pogacar wins everywhere he starts, apart from Roubaix,” Evenepoel said ahead of Sunday’s Monument. “If there’s one race where he has the least chance, it’s Roubaix. And he still finishes second twice. That’s not bad, I think. In Strade and in Flanders he comes in first. That says enough.”

That assessment sets the tone. Pogacar is the benchmark, even in a race where Evenepoel himself has already won twice.

The emergence of Paul Seixas has added a new layer to this year’s race, but Evenepoel was measured in his response to the Frenchman’s rapid rise. “The weather conditions were also perfect on Wednesday, but what he did is still very impressive,” he said, referencing Seixas’ Flèche Wallonne victory. “On Sunday it’s 260 kilometres. He’s only 19. That’s a different story. We also shouldn’t be surprised if he struggles in the final hour.”

It is not dismissal, but it is a reminder. Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a different test, one that extends beyond explosive climbing into endurance, positioning and experience over nearly 260 kilometres.

Evenepoel’s own preparation has been structured with Sunday in mind. His schedule has prioritised workload and progression rather than stacking results across the Ardennes week. “I rode the Volta a Catalunya, then the Tour of Flanders. At altitude camp I gained a few more percent. After that I had Amstel Gold Race. So it’s not comparable to last year.”

Skipping Flèche Wallonne was part of that approach. “Flèche Wallonne was never part of the plan anyway. Amstel Gold Race was six hours of racing, with some rain as well. We were purely thinking about freshness heading into Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Races often explode early, so fresh legs are definitely important.”

Despite the evolving field, Evenepoel expects the race itself to follow a familiar pattern. “I expect to be able to go deeper into the race than last year. The weather will be nice. It’s always a bit the same here. It will come down to man against man again after La Redoute.”

That moment has defined recent editions, and it is where Evenepoel expects the decisive moves to form once again. “I’m starting in better condition than last year. One more time to give everything, and then it’s time for a bit of rest.”

For Evenepoel, the external noise surrounding Liège is nothing new. The pressure that comes with leading a Monument challenge has been constant throughout his career. “Do I feel pressure? There has been pressure since my very first race as a professional. And there will be pressure until my very last race. I trust myself and my team. That’s what matters most.”

That confidence is rooted not only in form, but in familiarity with the race itself. “The roads here do get worse every year. Sometimes it’s even dangerous. It might not be a bad thing if ASO did something about that. But it’s true that I really enjoy racing here. This has been my training ground for a long time. And of course, I’ve already won here twice.”

In the lead-up to the race, Evenepoel also spent time riding recon with Philippe Gilbert, a five-time winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. “It’s a great honour to ride with someone who has won here so many times. It’s also his home region. Philippe is one of the best Belgian riders of all time. It’s always nice to be out on the road with someone like that.”

Alongside that experience, Evenepoel also confirmed stability off the bike following his long-term agreement with Specialized. “The working relationship has continued to grow. There has always been very open communication. I received a great offer from Specialized. I didn’t have to think about it for long.”

Evenepoel’s view of Sunday is simple. The race will come down to the strongest riders in the final, with Pogacar setting the standard and emerging challengers still needing to prove themselves over the full distance.

Seixas may arrive with momentum, but Liège-Bastogne-Liège demands more than one decisive climb. It demands endurance, control and timing across nearly 260 kilometres. And if Evenepoel’s reading proves accurate, the final hour will reveal everything.