The young 22 year old talent decided to leave Visma – Lease a Bike after realising that, with Jonas Vingegaard as team leader, his opportunities would be very limited. At Eusebio Unzue’s team, however, he arrives as the main reference point. In fact, it is already known that he will ride the Tour de France for the first time in his career, and he will do so as leader in the fight for the general classification.

To reach the Grande Boucle in peak condition, Uijtdebroeks will follow the calendar below:

Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026
Paris Nice 2026
Itzulia 2026
Fleche Wallonne 2026
Liege Bastogne Liege 2026
Tour Auvergne Rhone Alpes 2026 (new name for the Criterium du Dauphine)
Tour de France 2026

So why could Evenepoel become Movistar’s great nightmare in the 2026 season? Essentially because the calendar he will follow in his first year with Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe will be very similar to that of Cian Uijtdebroeks in his debut with the Spanish team:

Trofeo Ses Salines 2026
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026
Amstel Gold Race 2026
Fleche Wallonne 2026
Liege Bastogne Liege 2026
Tour Auvergne Rhone Alpes 2026
Tour de France 2026

Both Belgian riders will contest seven races up to and including the Tour de France, and they will meet in five of them: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, Fleche Wallonne, Liege Bastogne Liege, Tour Auvergne and the Tour de France.

Remco Evenepoel at the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe team presentation
Remco Evenepoel will race many times against Cian Uijtdebroeks in 2026

Similar objectives at Movistar and Red Bull

This is not usually something that causes concern. Many riders end up sharing parts of their calendars. But when objectives are also similar, as in the case of Remco Evenepoel and Cian Uijtdebroeks, that is when the warning signs appear.

Uijtdebroeks’ debut with Movistar will come at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. Under normal circumstances, his presence would make him the clear favourite to win the general classification. But he will face an Evenepoel who will also be supported by Giulio Pellizzari in what promises to be a very demanding race.

They will then meet again in the major Ardennes Classics, home territory for both riders, where the fight for the podium will be intense, especially at Liege Bastogne Liege where, unless there is a surprise, Tadej Pogacar is expected to win with one of his trademark long range attacks.

At the Tour Auvergne Rhone Alpes, without Tadej Pogacar (and possibly without Jonas Vingegaard, depending on Visma’s calendar announcement), both could also be contenders for the overall classification. And then, at the Tour de France, they will truly clash in the battle for the podium. Because although Evenepoel will be fighting for victory, the reality is that Pogacar and Vingegaard remain superior.

For all these reasons, the rival Movistar Team will face most often will be Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian will become the main challenge for his compatriot Cian Uijtdebroeks throughout the early months of the young rider’s time as a member of the Spanish team.