Evenepoel rockets to 4th win in 5 races while others felt the stage was unsafe: ‘It’s crazy … barriers are flying over the road.’
(Photo: Getty Images)
Updated February 5, 2026 09:57AM
Remco Evenepoel didn’t get to use his TT bike or make any GC gains on Thursday, but that was no problem for the Belgian bullet as he rocketed to his fourth win in five races with Red Bull.
Evenepoel led home a 1-2 for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe ahead of teammate Aleksandr Vlasov in a stormy, controversial day Thursday in Spain’s Communitat Valenciana.
Brutal 80kph gusts forced officials to make the late call that riders must use more stable road bikes rather than TT machines prone to disaster in any fierce cross-wind.
A stage-winner was awarded, but time gaps did not count toward GC in a decision that divided the peloton.
Some called the decision “crazy” and felt racing should have stopped altogether, while some were just happy to be able to race.
No TT bike, no problem for Evenepoel
There was little surprise that stage-winner Evenepoel was one of those who wanted to ride Thursday, whatever the weather.
The world and Olympic TT champions went all-in to win his first individual time trial for Red Bull, while many others took the steadier, more cautious approach.
Even without GC gains to be made, Evenepoel blazed around the 17km course at more than 50kph in a display of raw power and aero panache.
“There was still a stage win to grab, and I wanted to respect the organization,” Evenepoel said at the finish. “They wanted to let the race continue for stage results and I decided to come and race here.
“I also respect the decision everybody made,” Evenepoel said. “We’re 1 and 2 today with Aleks, so it’s a good result for us. We prepared all day as if it were a TT, so it was better to use this as a good test, and with a good result.”
Belgian broadcasters HLN and Sporza both reported that Evenepoel had been fuming at the start line when he learned the TT bike was off the day’s agenda.
He’d been seen flexing a 64-tooth chain ring on his time trial machine and wanted to go fast.
The 26-year-old had clearly calmed down by the time he chalked up win no.4 of 2026.
“We have a sport where we’re allowed to make last-minute decisions, and we have to respect them,” Evenepoel said at the finish.
“We have to be real sportsmen in our minds, and be ready for flexibility,” he said. “For me it wasn’t a big difference. I know I can also ride fast on a normal bike in a TT.”
Overnight race leader Bianiam Girmay finished close to 4 minutes back on Evenepoel but the stage neutralization means he retains his GC lead.
Peloton divided: ‘It’s crazy, the course is unsafe’
Winds of up to 80kph battered the course Thursday lunchtime.
Thursday marked the second time that the very-short 2026 season has been impacted by adverse weather.
On the other side of the planet from stormy Spain, organizers at the Tour Down Under had to adjust the iconic Willunga stage last month due to the risk of wildfires.
Evenepoel wasn’t the only one to be angry at the decision to neutralize the stage Thursday. Some thought officials didn’t go far enough.
“It’s crazy, the course is just unsafe,” Movistar’s Cian Uijtdebroeks said before the stage. “Riding with the TT bike is impossible with the wind gusts, but also the barriers are flying over the road, so even with the road bike, it’s unsafe.”
‘Remco didn’t agree’
Evenepoel’s frown turned upside down through the course of the afternoon in Valencia. (Photo: Szymon Gruchalski/Getty Images)
Many others thought otherwise.
“This is better for safety. There’s a really strong wind. I took the initiative,” Yves Lampaert told HLN before the start, explaining teams petitioned race organizers to adjust the stage.
“Remco didn’t agree, but we reached that conclusion with several other teams. The rest had to comply with the majority.”
Winds eased slightly as the afternoon went on, making racing a little more feasible.
“I think it was a good decision to still fight for the day’s victory,” Bauke Mollema said. “But for the general classification, when everyone has to go all out, with a time trial bike – that just wasn’t possible.”
Riders who spoke to TV reporters at the finish Thursday afternoon all had their own opinions.
It was one of those scenarios where officials would have wound up somebody, no matter what decision they made.
One person they didn’t end up aggravating? Evenepoel.
Volta Comunitat Valenciana stage 2