Remco Evenepoel admitted that he knew he would be dropped if he tried to follow Tadej Pogačar's searing attack on La Redoute during Liège-Bastogne-Liège, saying that where he eventually finished in third place was the "maximum" possible on Sunday.
Unlike 12 months ago, when a lack of racing, having only just returned from injury, saw him enter the key Ardennes climb in terrible position and quickly get left behind by Pogačar and the rest, Evenepoel was where he needed to be at the foot of Redoute in 2026.
