Evenepoel could make Paris-Roubaix debut as part of 2027 plans: 'Anyone who's good at maths knows exactly what it takes'
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Follow us on GoogleRemco Evenepoel gave a few hints last weekend after the Chrono des Nations about his plans for 2027. Following the Belgian’s lead, team manager Ralph Denk has done the same. The German would love to see Evenepoel make his debut at Paris-Roubaix, but emphasises that the decision is up to the Belgian.
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Remco had a successful debut on the cobbles of Flanders last year
Last season, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe tried to keep Evenepoel’s debut in the Tour of Flanders a secret for as long as possible, only to ultimately make a big announcement. Evenepoel has already admitted they can only pull this off once.
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It was the Belgian's first appearance at the Tour of Flanders, and he impressed, finishing behind Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel.
Evenepoel could make debut at the Hell of the North
If it were up to Denk, Evenepoel would make his debut at Paris-Roubaix next season as well. “I think Remco can do well there. But it has to come from him; otherwise, it won’t happen,” the CEO of the German team told Eurosport.
"If he wants to give it a try and train for it—something he's never done before—we're open to it. And then we wouldn't worry that he'd get injured there or jeopardise other goals," says Denk.
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Remco Evenepoel recently became European champion.
Denk on Pogačar's dominance: 'Anyone who can do the math knows it'
In 2026, Evenepoel finished second in the Tour de France, behind the seemingly unbeatable Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian has been the man to beat in the cycling peloton for several years now, and Denk believes that’s not likely to change anytime soon.
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Team boss admits that Pogačar seems unbeatable
"Anyone who's good at math knows exactly what it takes to beat Pogačar. His performance and recovery data clearly show that he's really good. There's a significant difference between him and the others," said Denk.
"If he keeps performing at this level, no one in the world can close the gap," Denk continues. "He has to make a mistake or falter; otherwise, he'll probably win the Tour a few more times. The gap is too big—not just for us, but for everyone."
"But we have to be ready if he stumbles or makes a mistake. That can happen, as we saw in the Vuelta," Denk says, referring to Pogačar's crash on stage 8. He was forced to leave the race which was ultimately won by Enric Mas.
Pogačar unlikely to ride Roubaix
Despite the Slovenian losing out to Wout van Aert at the Hell of the North last season, he has made no mention of returning to the cobbles in the coming spring.
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Last year, Roubaix was won by Wout van Aert
Instead, he seems to be prioritising his Grand Tour racing, with plans to compete for a sixth Tour de France victory. He also said he wants to return to the Vuelta, as well as target the notoriously hard 2027 World Championships.
Clarice WebsterEditor
Clarice has been following cycling her whole life, wroting about Thibaut Pinot (among others) for her university magazine while earning her masters in Journalism. She is passionate about furthering equality in sports coverage, and has taken huge inspiration from pillars of women’s cycling like Beryl Burton, Marianne Vos, and Laura Kenny.
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Latest Comments
- TotalEnergies’ sponsor situation makes this whole race for an invitation feel a bit academic unless they can secure funding. Hope they get it sorted—I’d love to see more teams get a crack at the Tour.cadencekingm21-10-2026
- Why do some teams get automatic invitations while others need a wildcard? Is it mainly based on their ranking from last year?robert6521-10-2026
- The paperwork deadline matters, but it’s odd that the UCI hasn’t explained what happens if a licence is vacated. Surely teams should know the process before the season is underway?velodromevirtuoso121-10-2026
- A guaranteed Tour start for the Rockets would be massive. Groenewegen has already shown he can deliver at WorldTour level, and the team looked well up to it at the Giro.gearguru3321-10-2026
- Pinarello-Q5 have made a strong case on the road, but a mid-cycle promotion would be messy if the UCI’s rules for filling a vacant licence aren’t clear. The riders and staff need certainty soon.jennifer1921-10-2026
- - The bike may be quick, but the article seems a bit too ready to credit the equipment for the result. Remco’s the one producing those watts—though I’ll admit, two minutes is a pretty convincing test ride.jennifer1918-10-2026
- - I’m still learning how time trials work: if Evenepoel caught Jay Vine, does that mean Vine started earlier, and do riders set off at fixed intervals?tourdeforce918-10-2026
- - A flat Tour TT on these roads would be brilliant viewing. Wide, fast courses really let the specialists show what they can do.davidm18-10-2026
- - Fourteen wins in a season is some going. He sounded focused on his own effort rather than the riders ahead, which is exactly the mindset you want in a race against the clock.michael5418-10-2026
- - Catching Vine and putting over two minutes into him is an enormous statement. That new Specialized clearly suits Remco—keen to see how it performs over a longer Tour time trial.raceready718-10-2026
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