"There is some work to do": Remco Evenepoel heads to altitude camp to find his climbing legs after UAE Tour struggles

Remco Evenepoel traveled to the Middle East with high hopes of winning the overall GC of the UAE Tour, but he was far from doing so. While the Belgian star easily won the individual time trial, he could not keep up with the best riders on the steep mountain finishes, losing badly to Isaac del Toro and Antonio Tiberi. Now, he is shifting his focus to an important high-altitude training camp in Spain to improve his climbing form before his next major targets.

Evenepoel managed to secure his sixth individual victory of the 2026 season during the UAE Tour, but his performance on the climbs left him disappointed. Belgian cycling reporter Renaat Schotte followed the race closely and summarized the situation.

"It was a stage race with mixed emotions for Remco Evenepoel," Schotte explained in words gathered by Sporza. "He came here to win and rode a great time trial, but uphill it went less well afterwards."

Because he could not match the pace of his rivals on the mountains, Evenepoel dropped down the general classification. "He ultimately stranded in 10th place in the standings," the reporter noted. "So there is some work to do."

To fix these issues, the Belgian rider has a clear plan for the upcoming weeks. He will take a short break before heading to the Canary Islands, Spain, for a tough block of training.

"He will fly back home soon and will then take a few rest days," Schotte detailed. "After that he will travel to the Canary Islands to boost his climbing condition with an altitude training camp on the Teide."

While Evenepoel struggled on the climbs, Isaac Del Toro took the overall victory. The young Mexican rider from UAE Team Emirates showed that he is in incredible shape early in the season.

"He is increasingly asserting himself as the reserve leader for Tadej Pogacar in the upcoming Tour," Schotte observed, clearly impressed by the overall winner. "Del Toro is already in a very enviable condition."

For Evenepoel, the goal is now to close that gap and return to his winning ways. His next big test will come in exactly one month at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, which begins on March 23. "The main conclusion: Evenepoel could not make it happen here, but will do everything to win the Volta a Catalunya after that altitude camp," Schotte concluded.