Remco Evenepoel Triumphs in Tour de France 16th Stage Time Trial, Tadej Pogacar Follows

On July 21, Remco Evenepoel secured a resounding victory in the 16th stage individual time trial of the 2026 Tour de France, held on Belgium's national holiday. The 26.1-kilometer race from Evian to Thonon-les-Bains saw Evenepoel complete the course 28 seconds faster than overall leader Tadej Pogacar. Evenepoel’s time trial win is his 26th career success in this discipline and marks his second stage victory in this Tour, having also won the summit finish at Plateau de Solaison.

Evenepoel, riding for the Red Bull Bora team and currently second in the general classification, reduced his overall deficit to Pogacar to 4 minutes and 32 seconds but remained pragmatic about his title chances. He stated that his focus was on maintaining his standing while acknowledging Pogacar’s exceptional form as he chases a fifth Tour de France win.

The time trial presented a complex challenge, featuring a significant climb, a fast descent, and flat sections to the finish line. Evenepoel credited his performance to his aerodynamic skills and a new bike supplied by Specialized, which he praised for its speed and handling. "Winning on Belgium's national holiday is special," he said, reminiscing that the last Belgian to achieve a win on July 21 was Rudy Matthijs in 1985.

Pogacar, though disappointed, praised Evenepoel’s dominance, describing him as "the best time trialist in the world." He called the 28-second gap "not significant," especially after narrowly avoiding a crash at a dangerous turn where fellow rider Florian Lipowitz tragically fell and abandoned the race. Pogacar expressed hope for Lipowitz’s recovery and confidence about the remaining stages, highlighting the importance of the upcoming four key stages including the iconic Montmartre ascent.

French rider Paul Seixas finished fourth in the stage, solidifying his position behind the leaders, while Mexican cyclist Isaac Del Toro claimed fifth. The day’s events underscored the intense competition as the Tour progresses through its critical phase with the general classification battle intensifying.

As the Tour heads into its latter stages, with breakaway-friendly routes upcoming, the rivalry between Pogacar and Evenepoel is set to captivate fans, with Evenepoel proving himself a serious contender and Pogacar determined to secure a historic fifth title.