"Our full focus is now on the podium in Paris" - Remco Evenepoel breaks unlucky Tour with convincing time-trial victory
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel was the man to beat today at the Tour de France's sole flat time-trial and he rode according to expectations. The Soudal - Quick-Step rider took the victory and leaped in the overall classification; releasing pressuring from his shoulders.
"You never know, because you know that big guys like Edoardo [Affini] will also do well on this course. They can also save a bit more in finales like yesterday's," Evenepoel said in a post-race interview. "I knew I had a good chance, but my legs have to be ready. Everything has to go according to plan, and in the end, it did."
"I think my strongest point was maintaining the same pace at the finish as in the first 10 kilometers. I kept the pace high, and we saw in the splits that I always pushed myself forward and made up time in the last 7 or 8 kilometers. I managed it perfectly; everything was on point," he believes.
Evenepoel rode a strong time-trial, in the second half taking over the provisional lead and removing Edoardo Affini from it. But it was Tadej Pogacar who finished the closest to him, with the Slovenian jumping to the yellow jersey - the only rider ahead of Pogacar now.
"Tadej also performed very well. With 17 seconds, he's quite close, it's half a second per kilometer. Compared to the time trial in the Dauphiné, he's taken a step forward. He's shown he's in great shape. He's the man to beat in this Tour de France," the Belgian said of his rival.
Both have gained significant time on Jonas Vingegaard, and Evenepoel is now even ahead of him. "Compared to the others, I did what I had to do, to gain as much time as possible on them in the general classification. I think it's a bit like last year with the time trial. I'm happy with that; it's a big step towards the podium. But the Tour is still a long way off: I'm just very happy with my performance in this time trial."
Now with no need to take a stage win, he can fully focus on the overall classification. "The Tour doesn't end here, of course. Everyone knows what's coming, next week and the week after. We still have a lot to do, but it's always nice to take a stage win. It means our team's stage-breakers have already won, so we can relax a bit more now. Our full focus is now on the podium in Paris".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 9visitors 4
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026 - Indeed! A reluctant gift maybe. Even more reluctant gift from Roglic! Tho I can’t see that Rog would have beaten Ving anyway.Lozza14-11-2026
- That really nasty crash in 2022 Liege must have played a big part - broken ribs, pneumothorax. You only have to look at his points tallies pre and post.Lozza14-11-2026
- Yeah, good luck getting tv and race organisers like ASO etc to part with their cash!Lozza14-11-2026
- 36 and Ineos have bought a rider on the downward slope. Bring back Dave and Rob who could manage the team. How are Ineos going to win a grand tour with people past their sell by date.paultryan200214-11-2026
- Mmmm would he be making these comments when he was on the richest team when riding. I think not i suspect. If we want money put into the sport we need sponsors who are prepared to put the money in. No disrespect but his team are 2nd or 3rd div in football terms with riders over the hill or 2nd string riders. If i was a sponsor i would be looking at what publicity am i getting back and Tudor really are just making up the numbers really.paultryan200214-11-2026
- I see (elsewhere) that Alaphilippe had more to say than what got relayed in this stub. Me: he was very good early but his latter third trajectory was the pits. His old boss did what he could (huffed and puffed) but Julian couldn't get his greatness back. Sometimes I wonder if crashes that didn't look like much changed the course of the rider.flyer14-11-2026
- I wouldn't classify it as a gift because the nasty consequences of taking it from Sepp would have been great and would persist and he knew it.flyer14-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment