Evenepoel's Early Season Dominance: Peaking Too Soon for Tour de France?

Remco Evenepoel, riding for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, is making a powerful statement early in the 2026 cycling season. Having declared his ambition to win this year’s Tour de France in December, the Belgian cyclist recently secured his first stage race victory with his new team at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana on Sunday, February 8th.

Dominating Early Season Performance

Evenepoel protected his overall lead in the Volta Comunitat Valenciana by finishing with the main group on the final stage, a position he earned after a solo attack on Saturday’s stage to Teulada Moraira. This victory marked his second stage win of the week, following a time trial win on stage two, and his sixth triumph in just eight days of competition. This early success rate is comparable to that of Tadej Pogačar in early 2024.

Did You Know? Remco Evenepoel moved to Spain in the winter of 2022, establishing a home just one kilometer from the route of the final stage of the Volta Comunitat Valenciana.

When questioned about the possibility of peaking too soon, Evenepoel expressed optimism, stating, “I hope not.” He believes his team has found a good balance between intense focus and necessary recovery.

Looking Ahead to the UAE Tour

Evenepoel is scheduled to compete in the UAE Tour, beginning February 16th, after an eight-day break. The field will be challenging, including Isaac Del Toro of UAE Emirates-XRG, Adam Yates (UAE Emirates-XRG), Michal Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling), and Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM Team). The UAE Tour will provide an opportunity to assess his form against strong competition.

Expert Insight: Evenepoel’s early season success, while impressive, presents a classic challenge for athletes: managing peak performance over a long season. Maintaining this level of intensity through the Tour de France will require careful pacing and strategic recovery.

Evenepoel emphasized the importance of controlled progression, noting that the UAE Tour is not expected to be overly demanding and will allow him to continue building towards his larger goals. He stated, “It’s in general not the hardest week, so let’s hope that we can keep everything under control and that I can keep growing, like we did now.”

Milan-San Remo Not on the Schedule

Despite his strong form, Evenepoel has confirmed he will not participate in Milan-San Remo. He will instead focus on a long altitude training camp following the UAE Tour, prioritizing preparation for later, more significant races.

Frequently Asked Questions

What race did Remco Evenepoel recently win?

Remco Evenepoel recently won the Volta Comunitat Valenciana, his first stage race with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.

What are Evenepoel’s goals for the 2026 season?

Remco Evenepoel has stated his ambition to win this year’s Tour de France.

Will Jonas Vingegaard be competing in the UAE Tour alongside Evenepoel?

No, Jonas Vingegaard will not be competing in the UAE Tour due to a recent crash and subsequent illness.

Given Evenepoel’s impressive start to the season, what adjustments, if any, do you think he and his team will make to his training regimen as the season progresses?

Evenepoel’s Early Season Dominance: Peaking Too Soon for Tour de France?