"I was able to compare Evenepoel’s power output with Vingegaard’s" - Evenepoel's new coach thinks he can step up a level in future Grand Tours
CyclingTuesday, 04 August 2026 at 14:30
When Remco Evenepoel got around to his final training days before the 2026 Tour de France, he was able to see how his numbers stacked up against Jonas Vingegaard's - because his new coach Tim Heemskerk had worked closely with the Dane in previous seasons.
The Red bull - BORA Hansgrohe rider put in a stellar performance at the Tour, finishing in second place, and crucially, seemingly getting stronger as the race took on a brutal final week. Behind only pogacar on the podium, the Belgian was perhaps assured of his level given that Heemskerk knew exactly what the benchmark was to match Vingegaard.
The Dutch coach joined Red Bull earlier in the season and jumped right in to work with the Olympic champion, overhauling the grogram in place under Dan Lorang - who had left for Lidl-Trek.
Admitting that it's hard to ignore Vingegaard's numbers as a benchmark, he insisted that they formed more of a rough guidance as the pair tried to focus on other factors to benefit Evenepoel.
“That is an advantage, yes. During the final hard training sessions before the Tour, I was able to compare Evenepoel’s power output with Vingegaard’s,” Heemskerk told Het Nieuwsblad.
Remco Evenepoel at Clasica San Sebastian 2026
Comparing Evenepoel and Vingegaard's power output
“Based on that, I knew: just one small step more and we’ll be there. It’s sometimes hard not to constantly compare Evenepoel’s and Vingegaard’s numbers, but on the other hand, I always try to focus on our own strengths.”
Heemskerk previously detailed how their training camp-focused Tour started slow, Evenepoel could not match their initial session goals as they re-adjusted. Furthermore, the targets set from the beginning were only met come the final week of altitude training.
Evenepoel's perceived improvements in week three of the Tour as well as his record-breaking Clasica San Sebastian victory seem to back up the theory that the 26-year-old arrived at the start line with ground still to made up.
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Heemskerk believes Evenepoel can improve further
“We started with easier training sessions, focused more on endurance, where he would produce lactate but also clear it. For each session, I would add a little bit more, only reaching the workouts I had originally intended to do during the final week of the altitude camp.”
As a result, Heemskerk sees a future in which Evenepoel can reach further heights with an uninterrupted winter of preparation.
“If he can train at full intensity from the very first week of an altitude camp, I feel even more is possible. That starts in the winter. My motto is always: do what is necessary, not as much as is possible.”
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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