After months of flat-out denial came the announcement that turned out to not be an April Fool’s joke: Remco Evenepoel will make his debut at the Tour of Flanders. The Belgian superstar, the nation’s great cycling hope, will have even more pressure weighing on his shoulders as he takes to the start line on Sunday.
The decision was surprising on multiple levels, but also makes perfect sense. Evenepoel is of course Belgian and lives not far from the route; this is the single biggest Belgian one-day race. “The connection between Remco and the Tour of Flanders is deep and emotional,” his team boss, Ralph Denk, said when the news was announced.
