“Best time triallist in the world, probably even of all time” – Remco Evenepoel hailed by Red Bull’s performance mastermind as new gains are unlocked

Remco Evenepoel does not enter the 2026 UAE Tour stage 2 time trial needing to prove that he is fast against the clock. Three consecutive world titles, Olympic gold and a long list of dominant time trial performances have already settled that debate.

What is more intriguing ahead of stage 2, however, is that inside Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, there is a clear belief that Evenepoel’s time trial ceiling still has room to move.

That conviction comes from Dan Bigham, Red Bull’s head of performance engineering and one of the least visible but most influential figures in the team’s new structure. Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Bigham did not hedge when asked about Evenepoel’s standing in the discipline.

“For me, Remco is the best time triallist in the world, probably even of all time,” he said.

On the surface, that assessment might sound like confirmation of what is already obvious. But Bigham’s wider explanation reveals why Red Bull sees Evenepoel’s current level not as an endpoint, but as a foundation.

“If you always keep doing the same things, you’ll just keep pedalling on the spot,” Bigham said, outlining a philosophy that underpins Red Bull’s approach across equipment, positioning and pacing.

The emphasis is not on radical reinvention, but on refining efficiency. Bigham describes his role simply as making riders faster “without them having to put in more effort”, applying science to aerodynamics, gearing, tyre choice and race execution. For a rider already operating at the top of the sport, that distinction matters.

A crucial part of Red Bull’s confidence lies in Evenepoel himself. According to Bigham, the Belgian’s mindset makes the search for marginal improvements viable rather than theoretical.

“He’s open-minded, progressive in his thinking and motivated,” Bigham said. “When you do wind tunnel testing with him, he’s always willing to try new things.”

That willingness is not blind compliance. Bigham admitted that Evenepoel was initially cautious about some of the changes being introduced, particularly around gearing, but stressed that trust in data rather than instinct has been key. “People think you need confidence to ride such a big gear, but that’s nonsense,” he said. “You just have to trust the science.”

Among the adjustments already made are refinements to clothing and drivetrain setup, aided by Red Bull simulation tools originally developed in Formula 1. The goal is not spectacle, but efficiency: straighter chain lines, reduced drivetrain losses and more precise pacing over short, high-speed efforts.

Bigham was also unequivocal about Evenepoel’s physical profile.

“I don’t know anyone in the peloton who is as aerodynamic as he is,” he said, noting that the Belgian’s ability to produce power while maintaining an exceptionally efficient position remains a rare combination, even at WorldTour level.

Evenepoel heads into the UAE Tour time trial with a small deficit to Isaac del Toro after stage 1, but Red Bull’s internal focus is broader than reclaiming seconds in Abu Dhabi. The race serves as an early reference point in a season that has been carefully structured around long-term objectives.

That perspective explains why Bigham’s final message was as revealing as his praise. “Always. That’s the name of the game,” he said when asked whether further gains were still possible.

For a rider who has already dominated the discipline, that belief is perhaps the most significant statement of all. Evenepoel may already be the benchmark against the clock, but inside Red Bull’s performance group, the assumption is clear: being the best does not mean standing still.

And as the stopwatch starts in the UAE, that mindset may prove just as important as raw speed.