His 6:26 deficit to Tadej Poga\u010dar this time around suggests otherwise, but there are three factors which could narrow the gap considerably.<\/p>\n
Firstly, there\u2019s Poga\u010dar\u2019s big crash at the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a. He suffered a concussion plus fractures to his neck and shoulder, and was forced to abandon the defense of his world and European championship titles.<\/p>\n
While the Tour is still over eight months away, Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme has suggested that fall might have a long-term effect on the five-time winner.<\/p>\n
Correct or not, it\u2019s clear his injuries and his curtailed season were less than ideal.<\/p>\n
The second factor is the age gap between the two riders. Poga\u010dar is now 28 and, if he follows the usual pattern seen with many athletes, he could see his performances start to plateau.<\/p>\n
Evenepoel is a year and four months younger and, at 26, should continue to improve.<\/p>\n
The third consideration is the gift the Tour de France organizers handed Evenepoel this week. Namely, the most time trial kilometers to feature in the race since 2012.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s Tour had just 26.1 individual kilometers against the clock.<\/p>\n
Next July will see more than double that, with the two TT\u2019s totaling 71km.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the most in the past 15 years.<\/p>\n
That, plus the fact that there are just three summit finishes, two less than this season, means that Evenepoel will feel good about his chances.<\/p>\n
A thumbs up from his team
\n![\"Remco](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/GettyImages-2297973036.jpg\"\/)
Remco Evenepoel\u2019s wife Oumi was there to celebrate his European championship road race success. Will she be similarly jubilant next July? (Photo: David Pintens\/Belga Mag via AFP)<\/p>\n
While the Belgian was not at this week\u2019s Tour presentation, his Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team gave a big thumbs up to the route.<\/p>\n
Directeur sportif Zak Dempster referenced the two races against the clock and said those will help fight for the maillot jaune.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first week promises intense racing, where staying out of trouble will be key,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe long ITT (individual time trial) at the end of that first week offers us a great opportunity to make an early statement right away. This could be crucial heading into the Alps in the second week.\u201d<\/p>\n
And while Evenepoel will then be up against Poga\u010dar and the other favorites in the high mountains, he has a chance to gain further time in the other ITT.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe second time trial is another highlight of this route,\u201d Dempster continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe welcome the return of more individual time trial kilometers, as this adds another dimension to the race and makes the battle for yellow even more open and exciting. Overall, it\u2019s a route that plays to our strengths and gives us every reason to aim for yellow.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for team CEO Ralph Denk, he too was upbeat.<\/p>\n
\u201cRemco is the best time triallist at the moment, world champion, and definitely he would be happy. We have two time trials here, more than 70k in TT,\u201d he told VTM Nieuws<\/a>.<\/p>\n However Denk played down suggestions that three rather than five mountain-top finishes made it an easier Tour in terms of climbing.<\/p>\n \u201cI see this a bit differently because we have a stage of more than 5000 climbing meters,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a super tough one. And there are other climbs here. Let\u2019s see. Let\u2019s evaluate in detail. I will not confirm this is an easy Tour de France.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is always the goal from our team to battle to the best, and let\u2019s see. But for this answer, we need to have a closer look at the route.\u201d<\/p>\n Unbeaten against the clock Evenepoel completed the season with a fine statistic. He rode five individual time trials this season, and he won each of them.<\/p>\n He took the TT at the Tour and also won his fourth world championship title, then defended his European champs crown.<\/p>\n He ended off the year with a resounding victory in the Chrono des Nations TT. Evenepoel finished a staggering 2:11 ahead of Jay Vine (UAE Emirates-XRG) there, and said afterwards that everything came together perfectly.<\/p>\n \u201cThe handling, the speed and the feeling of being one with the bike all felt really good. Looking ahead to next year, it was all very promising,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n That kind of performance is why former professional Jan Bakelandts is predicting huge gains in the Tour.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Evenepoel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/GettyImages-2298955915.jpg\"\/)
Evenepoel had a fine season this year and will aim to do better again in 2027 (Photo: Silvia Colombo\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n