Alberto Contador is weighing in on Remco Evenepoel’s odds at beating Tadej Pogačar at this year’s Tour de France. The Spanish rider, who won the Grand Tour twice in his career, sees cause for optimisim amid limited opportunities in the Belgian’s move to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe for 2026.
Team move “A good decision”
A renowned climber himself, Contador told Sporza that Evenepoel’s move to Red Bull is the right one. Specifically, the move should help the world champion time trialist to develop his climbing abilities.
“The team has the right people to help Remco improve on the long climbs,” Contador says. “With Roglic, Lipowitz, Hindley, Vlasov… He’s switched to a very good team that has everything going for it.”
“Can he stay at his best every day in a Grand Tour with stages featuring two to three climbs?” Contador thinks that is crucial, and a big question, in Evenepoel’s Tour potential. “We’ll see what Remco’s level is as he continues to improve.”
“If you want to beat Pogačar…”
Even with a boost in climbing, Contador sees limited opportunities for Evenepoel, or anyone, to defeat the reigning Slovenian on the roads of France this July. The key for Red Bull will be, he says, creating a strategic advantage.
“They have to play with their options,” Contador says. “Roglic can take risks, Remco and Lipowitz will stay on their wheel. But if they lose time, they can change tactics.”
Remco Evenepoel has done the unthinkable at the TT worlds
While Contador doesn’t quite have his Red Bull roster correct for ’26, Roglic will not race Le Tour this summer, switching Hindley in for Roglic could have the effect el Pistolero is looking for.
“If there was a 200-kilmeter time trail, it would be a different story,” Contador concludes, adding a second, if very unlikely route to defeat Pogačar, “Otherwise, it’s difficult to beat Tadej when he’s at his best.”