"The most suited Tour de France to Evenepoel's abilities that he's ever going to see in his career" - Should the Olympic Champion return in 2027?
Cycling
The 71 kilometers of almost fully pan-flat time trialing at the 2027 Tour de France are a major calling for Remco Evenepoel, according to Rúben Silva and Gavin Quinn. On the CyclingUpToDate Podcast, the duo have discussed the chances of the Olympic Champion fighting for the 2027 edition, with him unanimously agreed to be the rider that is seen as Tadej Pogacar's biggest rival.
The discussion between the two led them to discuss Pogacar's own status under regular conditions into the 2027 race. Although they agree that there is no course that does not suit the former World Champion, simultaneously it has been speculated that the route was made thinking of both Remco Evenepoel and Paul Seixas.
"This route is pretty perfect for Remco Evenepoel, isn't it," Silva argued. "'A route that is set to keep it suspense towards the end', well, what does that mean? It's a route where Pogacar can't dominate the race from early on". The route features two flat individual time trials on stages 7 and 6, with 71 kilometers in total distance - a large amount in comparison to recent years.
"We're for sure seeing elements of the route then later on that 100% benefit Seixas, or at least allows him or Evenepoel to put their best foot forward," Quinn responded. "Whether it's Evenepoel for a time trial, maybe some shallower climbs. And even then there's some of those mountain stages have flattened descents afterwards to the finish, which is also Remco Evenepoel-friendly".
The similarities between the terrain in which Evenepoel performs best and the profiles created by ASO are striking, and the duo agreed that this was most likely a conscious decision.
"We've seen in World Championships, in Lombardia, he can close the gap even if maybe he can't hold with the leaders over a climb - As well as, you know, 5 to 15-20 minute efforts, which is very much Paul Seixas' wheelhouse".
However there is also an understanding that despite the favourable route - Evenepoel and Seixas were first and third at the time trial World Championships - Tadej Pogacar will still be, under regular conditions, the absolute favourite.
"You still have to try and beat Tadej Pogacar at the end of the day, and this provides a tool for him at least to try and improve and try and get ahead of Pogacar first. Like Vingegaard never got a chance to get ahead of him this year".
Does the 2027 Tour de France route suit Remco Evenepoel and PauL Seixas?
The best Tour de France route ever for Remco Evenepoel?
Silva spoke about how he expected that, career-wise, it made more sense for Evenepoel to race the Giro d'Italia in 2027. However, upon seeing the revealed route, his opinion has changed completely.
"This might be the best, the most suited Tour de France to Evenepoel's abilities that he's ever going to see in his career, because I don't see them pulling off, once again, two flat 35-kilometre-long time trials".
"It's the terrain where it can make the difference. It's that back-loaded Tour without the mountain stages at the start, where even peak Evenepoel struggled a bit this year. The key stages only begin on the seventh day".
Gavin Quinn questioned whether despite Evenepoel's best intentions, if he would then hipotetically be aiming for a second place at the Tour, taking into consideration how Pogacar has been unbeatable over the past few years.
"Pogacar abandoned the Vuelta with a crash, and all the riders that want to win the Tour will even more now have that scenario in mind," Silva responded. "But that can happen with anything: With a crash, with an illness, with anything. If he's not there, the rider in second place is going to win the Tour. And it's fair game, obviously".
Nevertheless, both agree the route is too well suited to Evenepoel to miss, and that it is possible to realistically aim for more than a second place - his finishing position this year.
"I don't think Evenepoel is going to the Tour in mind of trying to reach the second place. That's what he had this year. I think that he can realistically go and think of a victory. And I think that with the level we showed this year - if he's able to have that final week level throughout the three weeks - he's not too far off".
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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- That's also true.PogiSloFans28-10-2026
- Oh come on .every country has road furniture .look at Holland .nightmare. every stage of the TDF has danger that is why Vin crashed out.If you look at the race with a health and safety outlook for everything why bother racing.cav crashed out in a sprint finish on wide open road so the argument holds little water.paultryan200228-10-2026
- This will be Remco's only chance that I see to win a tour. If he doesn't do it in 2027 he never will based on his age and upcoming new talent in the pro ranks. But he's not going to do it, Seixas is going to leapfrog him in 2027, unless he crashes out or is sick.awp28-10-2026
- If Seixas has the same development he did from the first of 2026 until the end of it, he is one of the Tour favorites in 2027. I think Tadej is obviously the guy to beat but Seixas should slot right in there with him.awp28-10-2026
- People forget Jonas can TT but it's been a few years since he's had a good result. I feel like he is going to come back with some anger this year. But he may retire, who knows.awp28-10-2026
- They had no chance anyway until Jonas crashed out, he was looking better and better.awp28-10-2026
- I don't think Lipowitz will be in front of Jonas, but time will tell.awp28-10-2026
- You're forgetting something very important, Jonas won the Giro before going to the Tour and his legs and body felt it. He wanted to prove that he can do the something Pogi did in 2024 but it didn't work out for him. There is a valid reason why only eight male cyclists in history have won both the Giro and the Tour in the same calendar year. The last one was Pogi. To sum it all up, if Jonas hadn't have done the Giro, I think Remco, Siexas and the rest would have had no chance to be second.PogiSloFans28-10-2026
- GIven the amount of injuries narvaze, almeida, vine, wellens, del toro (ardennes gone + lombardia) etcetc list goes on throughout this year, in context their even more dominant almost...UAE completely crazy best team ive ever seen without a doubt. Rremember UAE in TDF before the virus they literally played with every single team and 1-2 on stages after controlling all stage it was insane and everyone cried they ruined the sport. Strade they controlled all race and had 3 ppl top 6 still.. wtf(wellens wasnt even there and he was top 3 last year for instance)...list goes on Mcnulty winning worlds with 30km solo and in UAE hes just a good domestique and every other team he would top 10 TDF and captain classics...like wtf can teams do to that.. Then injuried started pill up more and more. Good to see tho Lidl and RBH coming in with money to push them alteast in the coming years(doubt anyone can actually challenge them, its almost impossible how they run things with continuity in roster structure and develop riders (pogi best ever...and del toro..) they can atleast push UAE and make a alittle less dominant i hope. Good years ahead, cycling is great nowmiguel28-10-2026
- Exactly the same jarring quote that drew my attention too. Whenever Pedersen is mentioned I always recall the late great Richard Moore depicting him as an uncooperative pain in the backside on The Cycling Podcast. Never heard him disparage another rider in that manner which I think says it all really.mikebeast28-10-2026
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