Without Pogacar, is he the big World Championship favourite? Red Bull star Remco Evenepoel puts in 5,300 metres of climbing in the Alps

Cycling
Thursday, 03 September 2026 at 20:30
Remco Evenepoel might be the main favourite to win the Clásica San Sebastian
In 2025, Remco Evenepoel looked to be in the form of his life late in the season following an altitude camp in Livigno. This time around, the Olympic Champion is repeating the same formula, but without Tadej Pogacar in the way of his goals most likely.
Evenepoel is a rider who has tremendous talent, and also knowledge on how to prepare for the different goals of his season. In 2025 he suffered from an injury and transfer-related stress ahead of the Tour de France, but that created a deceptively wrong image that he lacked the legs to fight for a Grand Tour win.
In the fall, the Belgian returned to his very best form, using the Tour of Britain alongside the altitude camp to increase his level ahead of the World Championships. He won the time trial event, iconicaly overtaking Tadej Pogacar in Kigali.
He also won the European time trial event dominantly ahead of Filippo Ganna, despite only having had an extremely tight schedule after the world championships.
But in the road events, Evenepoel was by far the 'best of the rest' outside of Pogacar, whom he finished behind in second place at the World Championships, European Championships and Il Lombardia. In all three instances, the Belgian dropped the competition in the hunt for the silver medal, whilst his level as a whole was not too distant from that of the rainbow jersey.

Golden 2026 season might have more big wins 

Evenepoel, this year, reached his best form at the Tour of Flanders where he finished on the podium and, in the summer, his preparation towards the Tour de France looked to be perfect as he reached his best level in the second half of the race.
He took a stage win at the Plateau de Solaison, rode to second place in the overall classification and appeared to have the best climbing level of his career. He backed the Tour up with a fourth win at the Clàsica San Sebastián.

High intensity at high altitude 

Since, Evenepoel has been in Livigno, in an altitude camp replicating his 2025 efforts which brought him to his best form. Tadej Pogacar has been forced to withdraw from the Vuelta a España following a crash that saw him suffer a concussion, as well as a fractured vertebra and collarbone. This means a participation in the late-season classics and Championships is unlikely.
Evenepoel might step up to be the main favourite, as he would've otherwise been in the absence of the Slovenian last fall. At the very least since the 15th of August, Evenepoel has been present in the high-altitude ski town
For the past few weeks, he has been doing very intense training rides in the high mountains, including some mythical climbs. This Tuesday his ride has caught the attention of many, featuring 5300 meters of climbing in just 181 kilometers. Evenepoel climbed up the Passo del Mortirolo, Passo di Gavia and Mottolino.
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