Former pro has intriguing perspective on why Evenepoel struggles on steep slopes: "Tadej, by contrast..."

First, Danielson looks at the strategies (announced before the race by Evenepoel) for the Flèche Wallonne. "Remco’s plan was to use his team to make the race really hard and 'wear down the really explosive guys.' While many of us watching on TV hoped that plan might include a long-range attack, I doubt that was ever in the cards."

"In contrast, Tadej’s plan was simple: shadow Remco all day and follow if he attacked. Then, in the final climbs, use his team to make the race hard, stay in position, and unleash his explosive power to win.." For Danielson, there is a lot to be said about the tactics alone. "When you look at the course and compare it to their strategies, Remco’s approach seems... questionable. There aren’t many back to back climbs, and the ones there are, are short. Sure, you can hurt people on them, but not enough to truly deplete your rivals. Just look at Lenny Martinez and Thibau Nys—both visibly struggling at points, yet still finished in front of Remco thanks to their ability to nail those short, punchy efforts."

"It seems like Remco’s better play would’ve been to let Tadej control the race and hope that others launched attacks to isolate him or force him to go long, like at Amstel. Banking on your teammates to wear down Tadej and then beating him up a three-minute climb? That's wishful thinking."

After an explosive acceleration out of the saddle, Pogacar was gone, and Evenepoel finished ninth, well behind. For Danielson, however, that is no reason to panic. "Is Remco Cooked? No. While I don’t think his strategy today set him up for success, he’s still a top contender for Liège—an event that suits him much better."

"First, this finish doesn't suit him," Danielson says, looking back at the Flèche Wallonne. "A steep uphill sprint sounds ideal for someone light and powerful, but it’s not his forte. He tends to struggle on the really steep stuff. My theory? His saddle is set farther back to maximize aero positioning like on his TT bike, which isn’t ideal when the road tilts up. Tadej, by contrast, rides forward and stays powerful in the saddle even on crazy gradients."

"Second, I think the cold affected Remco more," Danielson continues his analysis. "While Tadej stayed bundled up in rain gear, Remco had just arm warmers and a vest. It's a small thing, but once your core temperature dips, your body starts burning more glycogen just to stay warm. That flat look on the final climb? I bet that played a role."

"Third, Remco probably spent a lot of emotional energy 'playing' Tadej's rival all day. That mindset is important if you want to reach the next level—but it's also draining. When everything you've built mentally through the race crashes two minutes from the line, the drop is real. That low after such a high effort is brutal. But I think that reset—being back in underdog mode—might actually benefit him going into Liège," said the American.

According to Danielson, there is certainly still hope for Evenepoel in Liège. "In 2022, he finished 43rd in Flèche… and then won Liège that Sunday. This time? He’s better than ever. I believe we’ll see his best performance yet," the former rider predicts good things for the Belgian from Soudal Quick-Step.

Still, Evenepoel will have to contend with the world champion. "Will Tadej be the best rider there? Absolutely. But to have a chance, Remco has to let Tadej shoulder the weight of the race and wait for a mistake. Don’t force it. Don’t try to out-muscle him. Let Tadej take the pressure—and be ready to pounce if the opportunity arises," Danielson concludes his analysis.