ANALYSIS - Can Remco Evenepoel beat Tadej Pogacar at the World Championships?
CyclingSunday, 02 August 2026 at 14:45
The Clásica de San Sebastián 2026 once again showed why it is one of the most spectacular one-day races on the international calendar. Remco Evenepoel triumphed again in Donostia, hitting a historic mark with a fourth win in the race and becoming the rider with the most victories at the Clásica de San Sebastián. Does that put a scare into Tadej Pogacar ahead of the World Championships?
The Belgian again confirmed the exceptional form he has brought into the season’s closing stretch. After an outstanding Tour de France, with two stage wins —one a mano a mano in the high mountains against Tadej Pogacar and another in the time trial— Evenepoel keeps proving he is in one of the finest moments of his career.
That Tour level also answers those who long questioned his ability on major climbs. The Belgian is making it clear in 2026 that, when the legs are there, he can go toe to toe with the best climbers in the world. Beyond the specifics of each stage, simply having beaten Pogacar in high mountains is a powerful argument that dispels many lingering doubts about his performances on that terrain.
The race, however, was far from straightforward for the Soudal Quick-Step leader. One key moment came with an ill-timed puncture just as the race entered its decisive phase. The incident struck right before one of the climbs where Evenepoel had planned to launch his move. He later acknowledged that was the point he had chosen to try to rip the race apart.
That mechanical forced him into a major effort to get back to the main group. Although the Belgian mentioned losing close to two minutes, TV coverage never showed such a large gap. In any case, the situation called for a cool head, and that is exactly what the Olympic champion displayed. Instead of burning all his matches in a desperate chase, he measured his effort smartly on the climb and the ensuing descent until he latched back onto the favourites.
Up the road, riders like Richard Carapaz, Giulio Ciccone and several from Visma never quite found the cohesion to make their advantage stick. That lack of collaboration proved decisive. With hindsight, that was probably the best chance to keep the hot favourite from returning.
Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogacar after the 2026 Tour de France
Evenepoel gets the job done
With the group back together, the showdown was delayed until the final ascent to Murgil. There, the best version of Evenepoel reappeared. For much of the climb the favourites seemed finely balanced, but the decisive move came in the last five to six hundred metres. The Belgian launched an explosive attack that only Richard Carapaz could follow.
The Ecuadorian again showed his superb level after a very solid Tour de France, where he won two stages, finished in the top ten overall and took the mountains jersey. Yet even in that form, he could not better Evenepoel.
The pair crested Murgil together and tackled the descent with a small margin. Giulio Ciccone, winner of last year’s edition, tried to come back on the downhill and the flat run-in, but the effort fell short. It came down to a sprint between the two escapees.
On that terrain, the outcome looked clearly favourable to the Belgian. Evenepoel had recently showcased his speed by beating Pogacar in a similar finish at the Tour de France, and he again confirmed he is one of the peloton’s most explosive riders when the line comes after a hard climb. Carapaz could barely contest the win and had to settle for a worthy second, while Ben Tulett completed the podium by winning the sprint from the chasing group.
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Beyond the result, the Clásica de San Sebastián once more delivered a stunning spectacle thanks to the atmosphere on Gipuzkoa’s roads. Murgil was a showpiece, with thousands of fans pouring their passion into the race and creating one of those scenes that make cycling unique.
With this victory, Evenepoel closes another brilliant chapter in a season that can still offer big moments. After the race, the Belgian said he now plans to rest and prepare for the Worlds.
All signs point to his main target being the road race in Montreal, where he will chase the rainbow jersey. If he maintains the level shown at the Tour and in San Sebastián, he will arrive as one of the prime contenders. The big unknown is the condition Tadej Pogacar brings. If the Slovenian decides to ride the Vuelta a España, the accumulated fatigue could level the playing field for the World Championships.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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- That was an awesome ride by Markus. So close. Wiebes though, ain’t nobody beating her in a sprint.Pedalmasher02-08-2026
- Time is up for Ineos......
Senna196002-08-2026 - Guy could easily have been a top-end pro!
leedorney02-08-2026 - Yeah, his climbing performances are around the same level as Florian Lipowitz in an MTT... of course endurance is a different matter
Rafionain-Glas02-08-2026 - Andrew Feather is far from someone for anyone to hang with on rilly good hard climbs. Put his name and GCN on YouTube in a search "GCN Andrew Feather" and look at what this guy is capable of. It is insane.md197502-08-2026
- Please pay some respect to the man, it's Pogačar with a č.cgmethod02-08-2026
- Imagine riding past 1 million people over 3 weeks totally spent and explaining yourself 21 days in a row for press and then Wham...your alone in a room with no one.Psychological whiplash.Only a supremely balanced grounded human being can stay clear and true in that world.Lucky for us that human being is Tadej Pogacar Greatest of All Time.
Brucegel02-08-2026 - All together now:... 1 2 3: Pogi... The GOAT !!!PogiSloFans02-08-2026
- I'd like this doping topic to be dropped until someone is busted. These articles slyly infer Pog is doping but just hasn't been caught yet. Btw, I think he's clean.Santiago02-08-2026
- I'd like this doping topic to be dropped until someone is busted. These articles slyly infer Pog is doping but just hasn't been caught yet. Btw, I think he's clean.Santiago02-08-2026
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