"Do you know what Evenepoel's problem is? He is a very good classics rider, but not a Grand Tour rider" - Tour de France winner sends Belgian warning
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel has been handed a bit of advice ahead of the 2026 Tour de France, and likely an opinion he would like to hear. Lining out as Red Bull - BORA Hansgrohe leader, the Belgian wants to win or podium La Grand Boucle.
But according to the last Belgian winner of the race Lucien Van Impe, Evenepoel would be better served targeting the green jersey than the yellow. The stinging advice comes with the analysis that he's not suited for a GC tilt at the Tour.
In 2024, Evenepoel produced his best-ever climbing level to finish third overall. However, despite shattering his own records, he still found himself well off the pace of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard when it came to high mountains.
He did win the 2022 Vuelta a Espana, but legend Van Impe doesn't believe he's a rider for a grand tour - namely the Tour de France - and it's a problem if he is to continue targeting July.
Van Impe told Het Nieuwsblad: "Do you know what Evenepoel's problem is? He is a very good classics rider, but not a Grand Tour rider. And a good classics rider might just win the Vuelta a España on a good day."
Tour de France margin for error
He cites the minimal margin for error as the main reason for classics stars turned grand tour hopefuls: "That has happened before: Freddy Maertens, Laurent Jalabert, Sean Kelly. But the Tour is a whole different story. It is so difficult, so tough, and you have to be good every single day. At the slightest lapse, you are minutes behind. Your recovery capacity must be 100 percent,."
"If it's less than that, you will never win," Van Impe said. "Is it 98 percent? Then at best you can finish second. 95 percent? Then you might finish third. That is where Evenepoel falls short. If you don't have it, you don't have it."
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Despite the firm words, Van Impe insisted he does not think Evenepoel is a bad rider, but rather that he should switch his focus. Van Impe likened his challenge for Tour de France podium as riding himself "into the ground".
He concluded: "Just because I speak my mind doesn't mean he isn't a good rider. But he would be better off going for stages and the green jersey. To ride himself into the ground again just to finish third at best: I wouldn't do that."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026
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