Italian classics legend sees opportunities for Evenepoel, less so for Van Aert: 'His rivals are simply too strong'

If you want to talk about the upcoming classics, there are few better experts than Francesco Moser. The Italian won Paris–Roubaix three times, the Tour of Lombardy twice and Milan–San Remo, while the Giro d’Italia and the world title also fell to him. Now, he weighs up the chances of Belgium’s big Classics leaders.

Remco Evenepoel has already said he wants to focus a little more on the classics at Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe, although that still remains to be seen. It’s also possible that he rides the Giro d’Italia. Moser sees opportunities there. "Well, without Pogacar, yes, but now I hear from Giro circles that they’ve already secured that feisty Dane for 2026. Jonas Vingegaard, indeed. Then Evenepoel’s problem is simply shifted," Moser tells Het Laatste Nieuws.

Vingegaard has often spoken about his desire to win all three Grand Tours. But he won’t be the only rival in the fight for the maglia rosa, the Italian warns. "If Pogacar scratches the Giro, that Mexican will show up. If anyone is lean and supple, it’s Isaac Del Toro. Another tricky customer for Evenepoel."

If Evenepoel does focus more on the classics, he will in any case ride the Ardennes again, just like this year. Then the hunt for a third win in Liège–Bastogne–Liège opens, but races such as the Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix and Milan–San Remo are also on the table. Moser knows from experience how hard La Primavera is to win.

He won six Monuments in total, including one in Sanremo. When he looks at Evenepoel, he sees possibilities – but only under certain conditions. "If he wants to win on the Via Roma, he’ll need speed," Moser analyses. "Evenepoel is faster than you think, but not fast enough to beat Van der Poel in a sprint. But never say ‘never’. It’s worth trying – with a sharp, dry attack on the Poggio, like Merckx once did."

This year, Moser feels Tadej Pogacar approached the Italian classic all wrong. "Attacking from the Cipressa and pulling through from there dulls your explosiveness. Evenepoel absolutely has to be in the mix. He should hide until the Cipressa, follow, and then, in Cancellara style, sneak away on the Corso Cavallotti. A sprint time trial on the flat – that’s where his chance lies."

Another Flemish Classics king is Wout van Aert. But the Belgian leader of Visma | Lease a Bike is not rated particularly highly by the Italian at the moment. Moser does not believe Van Aert will return to his former level. "I’m afraid not. His rivals are simply too strong. That Tour stage in Paris he won in a particularly beautiful way, but he’s clearly become less performant."

This year, Van Aert finished second at Dwars door Vlaanderen, fourth at the Tour of Flanders, fourth at Paris–Roubaix, second at the Brabantse Pijl and fourth at the Amstel Gold Race: no victory for the Belgian in the classics. "The big results have been missing these last two years. In finals, his acceleration has dulled. If three or four champions keep pipping you to the line time after time, you have a problem for what’s still to come."