"Pogi not starting" - Remco Evenepoel has the perfect ending to the Tour de France, but a victory depends on Pogacar's absence
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel has reached the finish line of stage 20 as the first of the overall classification riders - who had ridden in the peloton. It was an to the Tour's most difficult phase with the best legs he showed all race long, virtually sealing second place in the overall classification. However to win the Grand Boucle, it doesn't depend on him much.
Evenepoel virtually confirms best-ever Tour de France result
Evenepoel withstood the pace of Tadej Pogacar on the Col du Galibier and then on the Col de Sarenne he contributed into the acceleration that saw Paul Seixas get dropped. His second place on the queen stage never looked to be at risk after he showed good legs; and the stage win was the only thing that could still be achieved.
Evenepoel was joined by UAE duo Pogacar and Del Toro on the plateau after the Col de Sarenne, and on the final climb he pushed on. The Mexican couldn't follow him, and with Pogacar waiting for his teammate, the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe rider arrived to Alpe d'Huez by himself.
"We are not in Paris yet. We still have one more stage to go," Evenepoel said in a post-race interview. "But yes, I am extremely happy to finish the mountains with such a good day today."
"I was a little disappointed not to take the stage win in the end because we came really close. But that is my mentality. I always aim for the highest possible result and try to win. I did everything I could".
Remco Evenepoel is on track to finish second at the Tour de France
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Evenepoel can only win the Tour de France is Pogacar is not present
Evenepoel's consistency sees him go into Paris with a second place, is best ever at the Tour. He won two stages, including beating Tadej Pogacar on the Plateau de Solaison. After in 2024 he finished third, he now tops that result with an even more impressive result - following a tailor-made preparation that proved to be perfect.
"I finished twenty seconds behind the stage winner, but I am second in the general classification, with two stage wins and several second and third places. So yes, it has been a very good Tour. I am very happy for myself and for the team."
"I also need to thank everyone around me, including my family and the staff members who helped me achieve this. I am extremely happy,"
Evenepoel has shown once again that he is capable of winning the Tour de France, but above all that depends on his competition. Jonas Vingegaard withdrew from the race due to a crash on stage 15, but taking the maillot jaune depends on the absence of this year's winner: "Pogi not starting. For the next few years, I think it is, unfortunately."
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.
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- maybe this is something else they can protest in the streets of France.mij04-11-2026
- his Roubaix win was amazing. not to take anything away from him - arguably one of MVDP's wins was at the expense of a WVA flat - but so many things need to line up to get one of these. He had a perfect race with fewer bike issues on an attritional course. And crazy strong as usual. Glad he got this done.mij04-11-2026
- Orts was a super smart signing with the new rules regarding cross and UCI pointsmij04-11-2026
- yeah... you're right...PogiSloFans04-11-2026
- Podcast sounds great. Two so called experts stating the f*cking obvious.wrsty04-11-2026
- A mindset that reminds me of Tim Declerq. I loved watching that guy just pound away the kilometers, hours at the front, holding an entire breakaway in check on his own. Bjerg seems like a similar guy. Curling, the team sport.RidesHills04-11-2026
- He will be lol, but he can still win on the climbs hahaawp04-11-2026
- I would love to have his inconsistency. How many wins this year? 2 TdF stages, a WC, a Euro championship, San Sebastian, multiple wins early year. Monument podiums. I'd take it. I don't think he has a chance in the TdF, but he is still amazing.mij04-11-2026
- He's not going to win the TdF. Maybe if they make every single stage a TT he could win. But I still believe Tadej would just sharpen his TT skills and win.mij04-11-2026
- You beat me to it. Should he make a full recovery (likely) and go light early in the year. One, two, three. Don't ask me, I don't give a damn. Should he be on a Feel-Like-He's-Fixin'-to-Die High.Yepperoni04-11-2026
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