Remco Evenepoel has quickly validated his unusual Tour de France build-up, pairing a strong team time trial with a third-place finish in Barcelona on Sunday.
The Belgian arrived after more than two months away from competition. He used that break for specialist training and a near-four-kilo weight loss. Some viewed the approach as a risk, given the demands of the Tour.
After two days, the early evidence looks encouraging. Evenepoel rode strongly in Saturday’s team time trial, then came close to a first road stage victory at the Tour one day later.
Remco Evenepoel takes calculated risk in finale
Evenepoel crossed the line third in Barcelona, behind Isaac Del Toro and Del Toro’s UAE teammate Tadej Pogačar. The result moved him up the general classification, but he believed victory remained possible deep into the finale.
He deliberately allowed a small gap to open through the final corner before the uphill run to the line. His plan depended on the front riders easing briefly, which would let him accelerate from behind.
Instead, Del Toro and Pogačar opened their sprints immediately on the climb. Evenepoel reduced the gap before the finish, but he could not come past them.
After the stage, he said he had wanted to take his first Tour road stage win. He also acknowledged the move carried risk, adding that such decisions sometimes work and sometimes do not.
The near miss still underlined his condition. Evenepoel looked explosive on a punchy final circuit, despite returning directly into the intense rhythm of Tour racing.
Early hierarchy shifts at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
Evenepoel started the Tour as one of two leaders at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Florian Lipowitz shares that billing after following Evenepoel’s 2024 podium finish with one of his own.
The opening two days, however, have strengthened Evenepoel’s position inside the team. He distanced Lipowitz on the final climb of Saturday’s team time trial and gained 16 seconds there.
On Sunday, he added more time. Evenepoel finished third, while Lipowitz placed 16th, ten seconds behind him on the stage.
The time bonus for third place increased Evenepoel’s advantage over his teammate to 30 seconds. That gap could influence Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s tactical choices as the race develops.
Evenepoel also improved his overall position. He moved up two places to third on general classification and now sits 15 seconds behind race leader Jonas Vingegaard.
He passed Vingegaard close to the finish on Sunday. He will begin Monday’s third stage nine seconds behind Pogačar and one second ahead of Del Toro.
Confidence rises after difficult 2024 preparation
The early performance matters because Evenepoel felt below his best at last year’s Tour. He said then that he had mismanaged his preparation and weight loss, leaving him run down.
This time, the feeling appears very different. Evenepoel described his condition, positioning, bike, and opening days in positive terms after Sunday’s stage.
He said the opening stages suited him well. The team time trial matched his strengths, and the punchy circuit also played to territory where he has won before.
He admitted the return to explosive racing felt unusual after a long break. Still, he suggested the first two days had already eased that concern.
Evenepoel’s immediate goal remains simple. He wants to stay healthy and continue on the same trajectory during the coming stages.
That outlook leaves Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe with encouragement before Monday’s next test. Evenepoel has not taken the road stage win he wanted, but his Tour de France campaign has started with momentum.