General classification UAE Tour 2026 stage 2 - Remco Evenepoel goes into queen stage with 32 seconds over Isaac del Toro

Stage 2 of the UAE Tour has changed the overall classification quite a bit and the time trial specialists managed to put in time into their rivals. With Remco Evenepoel at the start line, all others could only try to limit their losses, but it was difficult in a day where the World Champion was on fire.

The 12-kilometer long stage saw Evenepoel take the stage win and only Luke Plapp, out of the GC men, finished within the Top10. Ilan van Wilder, Antonio Tiberi and Derek Gee finished just outside of it; whilst race leader Isaac del Toro lost 42 seconds on the day.

Evenepoel is the new race leader naturally, with no gaps having been created in the opening day, and he is followed by Joshua Tarlind who is 6 seconds behind. Rémi Cavagna, Ethan Hayter, Daan Hoole, Luke Plapp, Florian Vermeersch, Antonio Tiberi, Stefan Bissegger and finally Del Toro himself complete the Top10.

Del Toro is already 32 seconds behind, which is a meaningful gap into the mountain stages. For a few riders the gaps area already very high such as Felix Gall who is no 57 seconds away; Lennert van Eetvelt is 1:02 minutes away; Adam Yates has lost 1:04; Tobias Johannessen sits at 1:12; Damiano Caruso sits 1t 1:13 and Nairo Quintana has shed a whole 1:30 minutes to Evenepoel today.