Patrick Evenepoel raises doubts about Tadej Pogačar’s participation in Tour de France.
Evenepoel suffered in Friday’s time trial. (Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Published October 25, 2025 04:27PM
He was third in his first Tour, was a non-finisher this year but Remco Evenepoel can shine with the right buildup next season.
That’s the assertion of his father and agent, Patrick Evenepoel, who infers that the 2024 podium finisher was at a big disadvantage this year.
“I believe that Remco – with a good winter, a good preparation and without bad luck – can perform at 100 percent in the Tour and achieve a very good result,” Evenepoel senior told RTBF.
The new Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe leader had a difficult winter, being doored last December while training and suffering serious injuries.
He returned to competition in April, winning Brabantse Pijl, but his disrupted buildup meant his form was sporadic.
He won the stage 5 time trial in the Tour, wore the white jersey of best young rider and was sitting third overall, but withdrew from the event on stage 14
Since then he won world and European TT titles, and was second to Tadej Pogačar in the road races at both championships.
Beating the Slovenian is his biggest obstacle to Tour glory. There seems to be a large gap between them, but Patrick Evenepoel believes his team transfer could be a catalyst to a new level.
“Look at the results that Tim Merlier achieved after his coach change. Pogačar also changed coach two years ago,” he said. “There was a need for renewal. With new scientific insights, training methods and nutrition, Remco wants to make progress.”
Could Pogačar miss the Tour?
Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar in this year’s Tour de France (Photo: Pool/Bernard Papon / Belga Mag / Belga via AFP)
Pogačar is poised to take a record-equaling fifth Tour victory next summer but, surprisingly, Evenepoel senior casts doubts on his participation.
“Are you sure Pogačar is coming? You guys [journalists] are always talking about him, but I don’t have the impression he’s going to the Tour next year,” he said.
“He wants to drive the Giro and the Vuelta. That information comes from the heart of the peloton.”
That suggestion will be viewed with surprise by some, including Pogačar’s agent Alex Carera. He told Velo recently that the Tour de France was a certainty next season, and also explained what the rider will do to avoid the third week blues he experienced this season.
As for Evenepoel, both his new team and his father hold back from Tour confirmation at this point in time. Both indicate that decision will be made later.
What would have helped guarantee his participation and boost his chances is if race organizer ASO had devised a course that would have better ensured suspense about the outcome.
Doe Evenepoel senior accept that a longer TT on stage 16 would have boosted his son’s chances?
“You don’t win a Tour in a time trial anyway,” he answered.
“You win the Tour in the mountains. Whether it is a time trial of 40, 50 or 60 kilometers, I don’t think that changes anything. In the last week you can have a lead of three minutes, but lose ten minutes in one stage.”