Remco Evenepoel rode a ‘mini Amstel Gold Race’ in Calpe, whilst his rivals were tearing up the cobbles of Roubaix

Instead, the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe leader returned to Spain to continue his build-up for the Ardennes Classics, where a renewed battle with Tadej Pogacar could await. The rivalry between the two has become one of the defining storylines of modern cycling, and Evenepoel has made no secret of the motivation it gives him.

Speaking to La Gazzetta, Evenepoel explained that competing against riders of Pogacar’s level pushes him forward. His focus, however, remains on his own progression and producing stronger performances than in previous seasons.

That meant resisting the temptation of Paris-Roubaix and prioritizing the races that suit his profile best. The Ardennes campaign begins this Sunday with the Amstel Gold Race, where Evenepoel is expected to start among the leading favourites.

With Pogacar absent, the Belgian’s status only grows stronger. Several other notable names are also set to miss the race, leaving the door open for a major result from the Olympic champion.

While much of the cycling world was watching Paris-Roubaix, Evenepoel was already deep into his final preparations in Calpe. His Strava data showed a demanding 230-kilometer training ride featuring around 2,900 meters of climbing, a session closely matching the physical demands of the Amstel Gold Race.

The numbers are revealing. Amstel covers roughly 257 kilometers with approximately 3,400 meters of elevation gain, making Evenepoel’s Spanish session a clear race-specific effort. Although the climbs in Spain were generally longer than the punchy ascents of Limburg, the workload underlined how precisely his preparation has been structured.

Everything now points toward another serious Ardennes campaign. Evenepoel has chosen to skip Brabantse Pijl, a race he won last year, placing full emphasis on the bigger targets ahead.

The Amstel Gold Race may also offer an extra source of motivation. Twelve months ago, Evenepoel was narrowly denied victory by Mattias Skjelmose and had to settle for third place after a tense finale.

This time, he returns with fresher legs, focused preparation, and clear intent. After surprising the peloton in Flanders, Evenepoel now turns his attention to terrain where he has already shown he can dominate.

The Ardennes Triple begins this Sunday with the Amstel Gold Race, followed by the Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday (to be confirmed), and on Sunday 26th, Liège – Bastogne – Liège, where world champion Tadej Pogačar awaits…

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