The Evenepoel-Paris-Roubaix story will have to wait

Remco Evenepoel will not be at the start of the Paris-Roubaix 2026. Just 24 hours after leaving the door open following his podium finish at the Tour of Flanders, several Belgian media outlets have confirmed that his presence in the Hell of the North is ruled out.

Evenepoel will not race Paris-Roubaix 2026 despite opening the door after Flanders

According to reports from HLN and Het Nieuwsblad, the decision has already been made within the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team and the Belgian will not start this Sunday. Both outlets agree that the option for Roubaix never really solidified and that the internal conversation following Flanders has ultimately closed that door for good.

Evenepoel himself had already hinted at this direction right after finishing the Ronde, although without being categorical. “I think there are many possibilities that I won’t. We have played around with that enough, so right now it is not the intention,” he explained after crossing the finish line of the Tour of Flanders in third place. He also insisted that there was no firm decision at that moment. “I leave a door open, but maybe others have already closed it. I can’t promise anything. I’m not going to say anything, because we have already lied enough. Roubaix hasn’t even been discussed yet.”

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That scenario has changed in a matter of hours. The same sources indicate that the French classic comes too soon within his planning and that the focus remains the same as before his surprising participation in Flanders. The immediate goal is the Ardennes, where Evenepoel will center his calendar in the coming weeks.

In fact, his next appearance is scheduled for the Amstel Gold Race on April 19, before tackling the block that culminates in Liège-Bastogne-Liège on April 26, one of his major goals for the spring. Roubaix, on the other hand, is postponed.

The performance shown in Flanders, where he was able to reach the podium in his debut, has reinforced the idea that he can also be competitive on this type of terrain. However, within the team, they believe that it is still not the right time to take that step.

Evenepoel will not be in the 2026 edition, but his interest in the cobbled classics has grown, and his name is already inevitably linked to Roubaix for the coming years.