"I won't just participate in the Tour de France every year. I also want to do the Giro and the Vuelta" - Remco Evenepoel's future goals after Tour de France success
CyclingWednesday, 29 July 2026 at 11:30
Remco Evenepoel has the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana on his mind, despite just finishing runner-up at the 2026 Tour de France. The Red Bull - BORA Hansgrohe leader has established himself as a definitive Grand Tour contender after a career-best performance over three weeks this month.
With Tadej Pogacar's Tour de France dominance, Evenepoel still harbours ambitions to win cycling's biggest race, but is realistic in his assessment of exactly what he's up against in the race to Paris. Looking elsewhere, Evenepoel sees potential to win another Grand tour while also competing at La Grand Boucle.
Assessing his 2026 Tour, Evenepoel took the time to set the record straight on his credentials as a general classification rider in grand tours. Noting his two podium finishes and Vuelta triumph back in 2022, he stressed his potential over three weeks.
"This Tour was very difficult, with more elevation gain than in recent years and a particularly gruelling finish," said Evenepoel after the race.
Evenepoel eyes Giro and Vuelta
"I won the Vuelta, finished 2nd and 3rd in the Tour de France, and abandoned the Giro while wearing the pink jersey due to COVID. So you can't say I've had a bad Grand Tour career. I know my potential, and if I start in good form, I know I can achieve a good overall ranking."
Looking outside the Tour, Evenepoel wants to start the other big races. Already a Vuelta a Espana champion in 2022, its often punchy terrain and versatile stages make him a contender if he was to start. He also won three stages in the 2023 edition.
His Giro d'Italia history is a little more complicated than the Vuelta. Making his debut in a Grand Tour and returning from a serious injury, he abandoned the race midway through. In 2023, he abandoned the race while in the leader's jersey and with two stage wins under his belt due to COVID.
He added: "It goes without saying that I won't just participate in the Tour de France every year. I also want to do the Giro and the Vuelta.
Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogacar after the 2026 Tour de France
Evenepoel pays tribute to Tadej Pogacar
Paying tribute to Tadej Pogacar, Evenepoel is trying to focus on himself. Noting that he's brushing shoulders with greatness, the Belgian finds inspiration in his stature within the world of cycling.
"I finished second, 6'26" behind. I think my level has improved, but Tadej is also progressing, or at least maintaining his level. I continue to focus on myself and try to improve every little detail. If I can't, so be it."
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"We mustn't forget that I finished second behind someone who is making history again. That's perhaps even more beautiful than my second place. I achieved this by following a phenomenon and an exceptional talent.
"I am honoured to be able to race against such a man and, from time to time, to find myself alongside him and try to beat him. I succeeded in this Tour, and it's a new step for me."
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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- Onley has been pulled out sadly.NellyDeee29-07-2026
- I do not think it is mentioned that articles go behind a paywall. On the contrary. I think Ruben mentions that they want to offer all articles always for free. The question is whether you want to browse ad-free for 4 euros a month. Like this article, I do not see ads in there :-)
DareDevil29-07-2026 - Ask the staff on GAN, they beg to differ.textrips29-07-2026
- What nationality? I'm from Slovenia and damn proud of it.PogiSloFans29-07-2026
- ???? Who's Mouse?PogiSloFans29-07-2026
- It's free tht's why I'm here.Cyclingsbestfan29-07-2026
- Last year Visma kept attacking Pogi...no good... they themselves ran out of fuel. Even in week three, when Pogi had an injured knee, they couldn't break him. This year they tried attacking late...no good...Pogi demolished them. It's hard to find a new stragedy when an extraordinary rider- The GOAT... is not one, but two steps higher then everyone else. Pogi can only lose if he crashes and hurts himself... becomes ill... or becomes old in the process, when his youth and passion for racing fades away.PogiSloFans29-07-2026
- Quite the contrary!MajorPayne29-07-2026
- Greg Lemond doesn't have to bash Armstrong's legacy, Lance is bashing his own legacy. It doesn't matter what Greg Lemond or commentators are saying about Tadej Pogacar and Lance Armstrong. More important is, what Pogi and Lance are saying about each other, and that is: Pogi is not saying anything, he just doesn't care, he wants to race. But what is Lance saying: Lance Armstrong: "Tadej Pogacar is the best of all time. I don’t even have to go that far back. He can simply do everything. It doesn’t matter if it’s a flat stage, if there are cobbles, if we’re racing in the high mountains or on the white roads of Strade Bianche. He doesn’t care about the time of year either. He just wants to race. He is, quite simply, the best of all time. Sometimes people compare my career to his and ask where I’d stack up against him. It doesn’t matter. This guy would beat the crap out of Lance Armstrong. I’m serious. For me, he is the most dominant athlete in the world. He knows what the real record is. He’ll keep going. And I hope he gets it. I don’t mind either way. I’m an athlete. You play, and records get broken from time to time. They’re there to be broken."PogiSloFans29-07-2026
- OK @urbantoreador, now don't you get me wrong. I agree with some things you wrote in your comment, but some of it was far off. Your statement, that "Pogi doesn't embody the same level of character as a racer quite like MVdp."... You see, this is utter BS!!! What about Pogi's character in the high mountains, or MSR, or Tour of Flanders, or even Paris Roubaix, even though he hasn't won it yet? The "fight" they have in Flanders is epic, but I would never say MvDP doesn't embody the same level of character as Pogi in this race. After they go over the Kwaremont for the third time, Pogi usually breaks him... but hell yes, MvDP has character, he just loses, just like Pogi occasionally loses. And one more thing, stages 18, 19 and 20 in TdF were crazy, and Pogi worked his ass off in these races, while MvDP was taking it easy and preparing for Montmartre. Now do you see the difference? Never again say that Pogi doesn't embody character. The biggest cyclists of our time that have character are Pogi, MvDP, Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Carapaz, and Remco. OK, maybe I left some out, unintentionally, but that's my take. PS: Cyclists, cycling experts, cycling podcasters, the media are saying that we are watching historical greatness by watching Pogi. He's writing his own history, changing cycling, some say he's the best athlete in the world. He just loves racing and respects everone that beats him and the fans love him. He embodies a lot of character, maybe more than any other sportsman.PogiSloFans29-07-2026
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