Remco Evenepoel - 2026 should start in Portugal; Giro-Tour double possible; Opinion on Tour de France route
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel is one of the single biggest figures in pro cycling and his 2026 schedule is starting to take shape. Everything depends on the route of the Giro d'Italia, which will be unveiled on the 1st of December. But in his plans could be a Giro-Tour de France double, a season start at the Volta ao Algarve and potentially a presence in races such as Milano-Sanremo and Tour of Flanders as has been rumoured for a while.
"At the moment, we have a plan A and a plan B on the table," Evenepoel said in an interview for Cystal Bike. And that does include the Tour de Frqance. "In principle, yes, although that's not 100% set in stone yet". The Tour seems to be the cornerstone of Evenepoel's season, but the climber-oriented route and the lack of time trialing kilometers are not good for him. "A bit atypical for the Tour. Difficult. A bit of everything, everywhere. But attractive. It will be another fun challenge. But there are other worthy goals."
If the Giro route features lengthier time trials, or kilometers of flat ITT's where Evenepoel can actually make a difference that is meaningful to his rivals, it is almos certain that he will be present, as Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe's Florian Lipowitz has already announced his intentions of racing the Tour de France. So for Evenepoel, there are currently two plans:
"The first includes a classic campaign, the second the Giro. Based on the Giro d'Italia stage schedule, which will be revealed soon, we'll assess internally and in consultation what's feasible physically and in terms of training".
He is also already confirming that late in the season the Worlds in Canada will be the priority, and the Vuelta a España will not be on the table. "We're also keeping the World Championships at the end of the season in mind, because I want to be at my best there. After the Tour, I'll pull the plug again and then, via the GPs of Quebec and Montreal, among others, prepare for the Canadian rainbow races."
Space for spring classics on the schedule?
Evenepoel's answer leads us to believe that regardless of his Grand Tour goals, targeting races in the spring is something he wants. "Even with a Giro-Tour combo, something is possible in terms of one-day work," he says. "But then the margin for error is smaller. As long as it doesn't compromise the ideal route to the Tour".
However other aspects of his adaptation to the team may be more important, and these are by no means already a confirmed idea. "I also need to get used to my new teammates as quickly as possible. And vice versa. In that sense, it will be important to be able to ride a Paris-Nice and/or Volta a Catalunya with them, for example.
"Once the Giro route is known, decisions will be made [...] The team will now review them and provide feedback. The fact is, however, that in both cases, sacrifices will have to be made for certain races."
The Olympic Champion also left a remark on where he will start his season, in which there are two possibilities: "I won't start the season until February, with the Volta ao Algarve or the UAE Tour, depending on the team's wishes. Certainly not earlier."
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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.
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- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026
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