(Image credit: Getty Images)

When Remco Evenepoel hits the cobbles of the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, he will be making the same route behind enemy lines trodden by a number of high-profile riders in recent years.

In an age of increasing all-rounderism, there is less of a shock factor at seeing riders stray from their usual lanes, and that's especially so in the case of Evenepoel, who is a Grand Tour champion but has achieved most of his success through one-day exploits.

Article continues below

The pre-race favourite, Tadej Pogačar, is a prime example. Alejandro Valverde and Vincenzo Nibali are two more Grand Tour winners who made solitary but memorable appearances at De Ronde.…