Evenepoel versus Pogačar: A Rivalry in the Ardennes
Remco Evenepoel returns to racing this weekend, and the world of cycling is watching. Will he live up to his potential this year? Or has injury already done damage to what should have been a series of interesting contests between him and his frequent GC competitor (and all-round superstar) Tadej Pogačar? We’ll have our answers in the Ardennes classics as the spring season comes to a close.
Photos from Wikimedia Commons
Most know that Evenepoel’s time away from the sport was marked by uncertainty over the rider’s health and form. After being hit by an opening van door during a training ride, Evenepoel faced a fractured shoulderblade and rib that took several months of rehabilitation.
However, the Belgian rider didn’t give up and was supposedly inspired to jump back into racing by the contents between Pogačar and his spring rival Mathieu van der Poel at Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix. His initial showing at Brabantse Pijl proves an important test for whether he’s ready to step into his shoes as Pogačar’s early summer rival — a prestigious title considering the likes of van der Poel and Jonas Vingegaard preceding and succeeding him respectively.
Pogačar himself, on the other hand, has been on top of the world in recent weeks. After securing yet another win at Strade Bianche and a respectable third place at Milano-Sanremo, the Slovenian moved onto the cobbles. He won with relative ease in Flanders, marking his second victory in that race. Then, for an exciting change that many fans were watching closely, he took to the cobbles again in Paris-Roubaix. If the faces he made on the podium were any indication, this race was just about enough to tire him out, despite his second place on the podium. But there’s no need to make faces over his season so far — it’s off to a great start!
Embed from Getty ImagesA change in the competitive landscape… with a catch.
Fans (and likely riders themselves) are probably wondering about new factors that will shake up Pogi’s dominance across race types. As we move into the early summer, the appearance of Remco Evenepoel may be exactly what’s needed to freshen up the racing scene.
However, don’t set your hopes too high. Remco is still going through the recovery process, and these early races will likely be used as a chance to gauge his fitness and predict how he will perform in later-season stage racing. So spectators will just have to wait and see whether Evenepoel’s form returns. Is he up to the challenge this early in the season? If he is, then we have some exciting classics contests on our hands!
The spring classics continue into the Ardennes.
You’ve probably heard of the spring classics, but do you know the difference between the cobbled classics and the Ardennes classics? The Ardennes classics are a set of one-day cycling races which occur in mid-April, primarily in Belgium and the Netherlands. Compared to early Spring classics like Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, which are ALL about the cobbles, steep climbs define this second set of races. The Ardennes profiles favor riders with strong climbing abilities, so they provide a warmup for GC riders targeting stage races and Grand Tours as the summer progresses.
★ Amstel Gold Race — Sunday, April 20th
The Amstel Gold Race is a cycling race held annually in the Netherlands. This one-day event takes place in the hilly Limburg region. It marks the start of the Ardennes Classics week.
★ La Flèche Wallonne — Wednesday, April 23rd
La Flèche Wallonne is a Belgian cycling race held mid-week in April. This one-day classic occurs in the Wallonia region. The race is known for its finish atop the steep Mur de Huy climb.
★ Liege-Bastogne-Liege — Sunday, April 27th
Liege-Bastogne-Liege is a significant one-day cycling race in Belgium. Held in the Ardennes region, this event is known as “La Doyenne” (French for “the old lady”), the oldest of cycling’s Monuments. The demanding course typically features numerous climbs, making it a true test of endurance.
Both Evenepoel and Pogačar will race all three of these classics as part of their spring campaign.
Other contenders want their chance at victory, too.
Remco and Tadej are likely eager to line up in the Ardennes for a chance at a few wins, but they’re not the only strong riders in the field. These races will be filled to the brim with contenders hoping to make their mark with a win or podium. Let’s talk about who else will be there — and who might be missing.
Of course, van der Poel is another rider on top of the world right now, and not just because of his record-breaking third victory at Paris-Roubaix last weekend. However, fans holding their breath to see him challenge the Ardennes may be disappointed. Van der Poel intends to take a short break from road racing to contest in mountain biking — including a bid for the world championship title in that discipline. His first mountain biking race of the season will be on May 18th in Germany.
Wout van Aert also joined Evenepoel at Brabantse Pijl. Unlike his contemporary (and former cyclocross rival) van der Poel, van Aert does not have a lot to show for his cobbled classics campaign. His crash very early in Paris-Roubaix put a sad ending on his trajectory, which was looking up after a relatively strong performance in Flanders. These improvements have not been enough to net him a win in 2025, but a brief stint in the Ardennes may change that. He intends to race Amstel Gold Race, followed by a period of training before the Giro d’Italia in May.
GC riders looking to make a mark in the Ardennes include Mattias Skjelmose, Enric Mas, Ben O’Connor, and Pello Bilbao. Mads Pedersen, who was prominent for the Lidl-Trek squad through the cobbled classics, will take a break in prep for the Giro. Instead, we may see some interesting results from Thibau Nys. He will ride all three races in the Ardennes after a mediocre showing at Itzulia Basque Country a couple weeks ago.
Two riders who made team changes at the end of 2024, Marc Hirschi and Tom Pidcock, will be outside favorites through the Ardennes week. Can Hirschi recapture some of the strong form he showed at the end of 2024 before his move to Tudor? As for Pidcock, he is settling in nicely at Q36.5, but a win through this period would solidify his improvements since his departure from Ineos.
Embed from Getty ImagesHow should TV/streaming viewers watch the Ardennes classics?
All three of the main Ardennes classics will be available for viewing at home. Here are some quick viewing options depending on country or region:
United States
Amstel Gold Race will be available on FloBikes, while La Flèche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege can be streamed on Peacock.
United Kingdom
All three races will be available on TNT Sports streaming.
Canada
FloBikes will broadcast all three Ardennes classics for Canadian viewers.
Australia
For these races, check SBS listings or online streaming options.
Europe
Coverage varies by country — check your local listings and options for more specific information.
Embed from Getty ImagesClosing thoughts.
Are you eager to see what happens in the Ardennes? Whether an early summer rivalry between Evenepoel and Pogačar manifests or not, we’re likely to see some exciting races through the end of April. I hope you can tune in and enjoy some of these contests — or even attend the races in person.
As we move towards the summer months, including the start of the Giro and more stage racing in France, the cycling season is well and truly underway. For cycling fans, there’s no doubt: we’re enjoying every minute of 2025 so far.
Are you expecting some real contests between Evenepoel and Pogi in the Ardennes? What about later in the season? Let us know your predictions in the comments or on social media! ★
