Gianni Vermeersch explains Remco Evenepoel's Kwaremont-Paterberg circuit reconnaissance

Remco Evenepoel made it clear at the end of December: he will not debut in the Tour of Flanders in 2026. Yet, the Belgian was spotted last Sunday on the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg. According to training partner and teammate Gianni Vermeersch, this was purely coincidental.

Anyone riding around Oudenaarde last Sunday likely saw Remco Evenepoel. Short video footage obtained by Het Nieuwsblad shows the new Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team leader training in black kit in the area. He reportedly rode the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg—the two critical climbs in the Tour of Flanders finale—at least twice.

Evenepoel’s future teammate Gianni Vermeersch was also seen on the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg. But according to the West Flandrian, Evenepoel was not secretly scouting for the Tour of Flanders. “Remco? That was just a training ride,” Vermeersch said before the start of the race in Baal in an interview with Sporza. “He lives close to Geraardsbergen, and we rode towards each other.”

The two Belgians were reportedly supported in the Flemish Ardennes by Sven Vanthourenhout and Klaas Lodewyck, who have been team directors at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe since this year. This again sparked speculation about a possible participation of the Olympic champion in the upcoming Tour of Flanders. Earlier in December, Evenepoel had presented a schedule that deliberately left out the ‘Flemish holy day’.

“We had to test some equipment for the team. Remco had to do a long endurance ride, so he just joined us,” explained Vermeersch. “If I’m wrong and Remco ends up racing the Tour after all, you can come knock on my door again,” Vermeersch laughed. “Then I’ll be the scapegoat.”