'If I tried to follow, I would completely blow up' – Remco Evenepoel settles for third, unable to match superstar rivals at Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Remco Evenepoel secured third place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, acknowledging that he was unable to match the pace set by race favourite Tadej Pogačar and other top contenders on the decisive climbs. Unlike the previous year, Evenepoel was well positioned at the foot of the Côte de la Redoute, but when Pogačar launched his powerful attack, Evenepoel’s legs felt heavy and he knew that trying to follow would cause him to "blow up." He chose instead to maintain a steady rhythm, conserving energy to contest the sprint for third place, which he ultimately won. Evenepoel’s performance marked a significant improvement from his 2025 showing, where injury and lack of race fitness left him trailing early on. This year, he demonstrated better race positioning and tactical awareness, staying with the leading group longer and responding to the race dynamics more effectively. Despite this, the intensity of the final climbs proved too much, with only French rider Paul Seixas able to stay with Pogačar’s relentless pace. Evenepoel described his legs as “tired” at the critical moment, highlighting the physical demands imposed by the UAE Team Emirates’ pace-setting. The Belgian rider also reflected on an unexpected early breakaway, where he found himself in a large group that gained nearly four minutes on the peloton. Evenepoel explained that his presence in the break was accidental rather than strategic, as he did not collaborate with others to form the move and simply found himself at the front when the peloton split. He used this early advantage to conserve energy for the latter part of the race, aiming to arrive at the hills as fresh as possible, though ultimately he was unable to match the top contenders in the finale. With this result, Evenepoel concludes his Spring Classics campaign on a positive note, having also secured podium finishes at the Tour of Flanders and a victory at the Amstel Gold Race. His consistent form across these prestigious races positions him well for his upcoming preparation for the Tour de France. While he fell short of challenging for victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, his performance demonstrated resilience and tactical maturity, suggesting he remains a formidable presence in the classics and beyond.