ANALYSIS | The reason why Remco Evenepoel will be Movistar Team’s nightmare in 2026
CyclingSunday, 28 December 2025 at 21:30
The start of the 2026 season, after several weeks of rest, is just around the corner. All teams are putting the finishing touches on their preparations for what promises to be an exciting campaign.
At Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, for example, the debut of Remco Evenepoel is set to take place, their star signing. What few people realise yet is that the Belgian superstar could become a real headache for Movistar Team.
The Spanish outfit has also done its homework very well in the transfer market for 2026. Movistar has secured several high profile signings, as well as finally creating its under 23 development team. But no move has been as important for them as the arrival of Cian Uijtdebroeks.
The young 22 year old talent decided to leave Visma - Lease a Bike after realising that, with Jonas Vingegaard as team leader, his opportunities would be very limited. At Eusebio Unzue’s team, however, he arrives as the main reference point. In fact, it is already known that he will ride the Tour de France for the first time in his career, and he will do so as leader in the fight for the general classification.
To reach the Grande Boucle in peak condition, Uijtdebroeks will follow the calendar below:
- Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026
- Paris Nice 2026
- Itzulia 2026
- Fleche Wallonne 2026
- Liege Bastogne Liege 2026
- Tour Auvergne Rhone Alpes 2026 (new name for the Criterium du Dauphine)
- Tour de France 2026
So why could Evenepoel become Movistar’s great nightmare in the 2026 season? Essentially because the calendar he will follow in his first year with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe will be very similar to that of Cian Uijtdebroeks in his debut with the Spanish team:
- Trofeo Ses Salines 2026
- Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026
- Amstel Gold Race 2026
- Fleche Wallonne 2026
- Liege Bastogne Liege 2026
- Tour Auvergne Rhone Alpes 2026
- Tour de France 2026
Both Belgian riders will contest seven races up to and including the Tour de France, and they will meet in five of them: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, Fleche Wallonne, Liege Bastogne Liege, Tour Auvergne and the Tour de France.
Remco Evenepoel at the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe team presentation
Remco Evenepoel will race many times against Cian Uijtdebroeks in 2026
Similar objectives at Movistar and Red Bull
This is not usually something that causes concern. Many riders end up sharing parts of their calendars. But when objectives are also similar, as in the case of Remco Evenepoel and Cian Uijtdebroeks, that is when the warning signs appear.
Uijtdebroeks’ debut with Movistar will come at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. Under normal circumstances, his presence would make him the clear favourite to win the general classification. But he will face an Evenepoel who will also be supported by Giulio Pellizzari in what promises to be a very demanding race.
They will then meet again in the major Ardennes Classics, home territory for both riders, where the fight for the podium will be intense, especially at Liege Bastogne Liege where, unless there is a surprise, Tadej Pogacar is expected to win with one of his trademark long range attacks.
At the Tour Auvergne Rhone Alpes, without Tadej Pogacar (and possibly without Jonas Vingegaard, depending on Visma’s calendar announcement), both could also be contenders for the overall classification. And then, at the Tour de France, they will truly clash in the battle for the podium. Because although Evenepoel will be fighting for victory, the reality is that Pogacar and Vingegaard remain superior.
For all these reasons, the rival Movistar Team will face most often will be Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian will become the main challenge for his compatriot Cian Uijtdebroeks throughout the early months of the young rider’s time as a member of the Spanish team.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- This course and today’s conditions made it hard to make a differencemij28-12-2025
- They’re both such gentleman towards each other.mij28-12-2025
- (“He understands very well that by following training schedules perfectly, you can discover exactly what works and what does not work for him.” According to Heemskerk, this consistency has allowed the performance staff to refine preparation with unusual clarity. ) This is probably the most underrated statement. Even patients dont stick to regimes, people dont stick to diets and as a result fail. If is do X , i get Y output all the time then it is easy for the trainers to come up with maximization techniques. But no amount of maximization will help if the other sides normal is above your maximum.abstractengineer28-12-2025
- You can't consider a season you win two Grand Tours as a team and has 40 victories in the year a failure but you can't help but think they must be disappointed. Most of the wins came from emerging and second tier riders often in lower level stage races and one day races. The teams mega stars fell short and yes that takes the many injuries into account. Teams Like Visma, Ineos etc talk of their seasons in terms of Tour de France success and no matter how well they talk it up, at times I felt them and their tactics utterly inept, even with Tadej struggling in the last week they had nothing to challenge him or UAE other than Wout on Stage 21 but I suspect his entire tour was set up for that one day. I'd give them an 8, could have been better. Thing is .... other than UAE is there any other team scores higher??slappers6628-12-2025
- Nobody fired Sagan when he was DUI. Gaviria recently. Typically only company time or egregious stuff or company policy will cause a company to fire people. I am not saying there shouldn't be consequences, but firing is too extreme.abstractengineer28-12-2025
- Except the President, then you can do whatever you wantabstractengineer28-12-2025
- Those are realistic expectations. No other team says that in media, I am looking at you Ineos.abstractengineer28-12-2025
- it's a matter of being exemplary, especially when wearing the team's colors. but i still think the banning is too extreme. a 1 month suspension would have done the job
ChillingCyclist28-12-2025 - Joao Almeida won both Switzerland and Romandie this year!Lozza28-12-2025
- that's an honest dudeChillingCyclist28-12-2025
Loading
Write a comment