"The goal is to start tomorrow with the same lead" - Remco Evenepoel downplays general classification fireworks speculation ahead of stage 18
CyclingThursday, 23 July 2026 at 13:15
Stage 18 of the 2026 Tour de France introduces the peleton to the Alps with a mountain-top finish and a lighter curtain-raiser before two brutal stages on Friday and Saturday. Ahead of the finale of La Grand Boucle, Remco Evenepoel made his first gains on Tadej Pogacar in recent stages.
Beginning with his first-ever road race stage victory at the Tour on Sunday at Plateau de Solaison, Evenepoel followed that up by taking 28 seconds on the yellow jersey at Tuesday's time trial. After a transition stage, an opportunity arises for Evenepoel to try and consolidate his second place and even test Pogacar again.
However, Evenepoel seemed to pour cold water over that suggestion at the start on Thursday. The Belgian hinted that fans can potentially expect a breakaway day rather than general classification fireworks with Alpe d'Huez looming.
"If everyone says that, everyone wants to be in it too, and then things could turn out differently. It does indeed look like a good opportunity for the breakaway riders, but it could go either way, just like every day," Evenepoel told VTM NEWS.
Remco Evenepoel at the 2026 Tour de France
Evenepoel planning to ride "economically"
Evenepoel mentioned the goal is to ride "economically as he summed up his intentions: "The goal is to start tomorrow with the same lead as today."
In his interview, he mentioned outside criticism affecting him and other riders in the past, revealing that he hasn't monitored his Instagram account for quite some time.
He said: "I do indeed have experience with it too, but apparently it's just part of the game these days because everyone can reach each other so easily. I myself haven't had my Instagram since 10 days before the Tour of Flanders."
Meanwhile, Paul Seixas' Decathlon CMA CGM teammate Tiesj Benoot is recovering from a day in the break on Wednesday and he expects another battle today.
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Benoot on supporting Seixas on stage 18
However, he insisted that he and his teammates will be focused on Seixas in their bid to help the teenage make up the 20 second gap to Isaac del Toro in the battle for third place and the coveted white jersey for best young rider.
"I gave it my all, so I mainly hope I've recovered for today. Yesterday was definitely my best day in the Tour so far.
"Today we are putting everything on Paul, because it will be a stage for the breakaway and there will always be a better climber in it than myself – think of types like Carapaz. Paul was good yesterday, maybe we can move up another spot."
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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- Due to the high bar of the evidence needed for testing, i expect Jonas and Pogi to text positive otherwise ITA is just bullshittingabstractengineer23-07-2026
- Ahhh poor Pogiboy. Didn’t see you moaning too much when it was western fans doing that against a western rider, which, using your methodology and analysis must be more than enough proof for you that dumb fans are not biased towards any one rider or his nationality but just general dyckheads. If you don’t have the level to separate those from the general population you’re just showing how desperate you must be for things to fit into the narrative you’ve chosen as truth, am sure you can think of which personality that seems to resemble most.Mistermaumau23-07-2026
- Firstly, seems like you are confusing ITA and AFLD where a biais would be more believable, secondly as I already suggested, any French bias would have seen testing of DT and RE instead of JV and TP. Moving on to big brain Plugge, obviously not very versed in the art of secrecy that is a prerequisite for this type of operation. Am already surprised TP was tested a whole 3 hours after JV and pretty sure by then someone at UAE was already aware something was on, you can’t keep such an event (2am ) from not being mentioned by someone to another and then another. Imagine how many tight-lipped competent and available personnel would be required to descend on 10 teams simultaneously? Imagine nobody noticing any preparations (very discreet gathering of known/unknown (if unknown once, certainly not next time) faces in one place. Imagine teams not noticing or sharing almost simultaneous requests for rider locations. Imagine it’s that easy to reach riders’ rooms anywhere in the middle of the night without being noticed. Remember how Lance could still dupe controllers only seconds away from him, read about how they have to test urine in tennis now because players discovered how to make as if they were peeing their current output, watch films in the line of Gattaca, keep informed on medical, mafia and business developments and stop being naive. Why would cycling suddenly be the only clean sport and that just when money is finally becoming interesting, why would « manufacturers » avoid cycling for sales, scruples?Mistermaumau23-07-2026
- Yeah, half an hour of TT is hardly comparable to over a dozen hours of tough long climbing. That’s like tweaking an Ironman down to 10 minutes of swimming. GTs should be including more time when riders have to perform on their own.Mistermaumau23-07-2026
- That’s not a sentenceMistermaumau23-07-2026
- I had another debate elsewhere following on from MM’s complaint which got some interesting comments, unfortunately it got closed just as it started getting interesting. 2 things I’ll carry over that I couldn’t suggest and haven’t been mentioned anywhere I checked: Firstly, the PS biais, sorry but that’s just not credible. If anyone up there had wanted to influence things like Trump tried (and failed) at Fifa (incidentally, did he really stoop so low to try to convince Rodri is his or was that a case of mistaken identity?) they would have tested Remco and Del Toro instead. Somebody’s best shot at proving being woken at night leads to accidents was a statistical argument regarding an increase of traffic incidents the day after clocks go forward. So firstly, assuming nobody adapted by going to bed earlier and secondly denying anyone might be driving differently because at some point they realised they’re later than expected or didn’t stick to their usual routine perfectly. As for today’s title, probably best if DT and PS leave the testing of Remco to the ITA, ride your own races guys, stop focusing on others, and DT, if Carapaz tries anything, remember your Giro.Mistermaumau23-07-2026
- Something not quite right in this story. They knew who you were or you stopped to exchange numbers? Obviously now you have theirs do they are identifiable and the text proves they knew there was an incident so technically they rode away from an accident without due paperwork. Not hard to deal with this correctly before telling the whole world of a tiny incident no worse than any cyclist has experienced. Always a bit weird when people get a voice to recount what would interest nobody should it come from citizen X.Mistermaumau23-07-2026
- The organisers’ optimism suggests that the Vuelta a España 2026 could feature one of the biggest possible attractions for cycling fans because of Tadej Pogačar - THE GOAT !!! The Spanish fans love Pogi, just like the Italians, on contrary, the French are giving him the middle finger (caught on camera)... the French are booing him (caught on camera)... the French media is implying or hinting that Pogi might be doping. What's going to be next... spitting or throwing urine into Pogi's face???mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales23-07-2026
- Love the guy but I hope he doesn't. We need a grand tour that has a genuine competition in it for GC.Cyclingsbestfan23-07-2026
- "(...) and why not the rest of the top ten?" Unfortunately in the rest of TOP 10 is a french rider which is somehow invisible for ITA.averagecyclist23-07-2026
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