Evenepoel Dominates Dauphiné Time Trial, Seizes Lead
Belgian Champion Sets Impressive Pace, Leaving Rivals Behind
Remco Evenepoel asserted his dominance in the Critérium du Dauphiné with a commanding victory in Wednesday’s 17.4km individual time trial. The Olympic and world champion’s performance propelled him to the top of the overall standings, signaling his intent for the remainder of the race.
Stage Victory and Overall Lead
The 25-year-old Evenepoel completed the course in a blistering time, finishing 21 seconds ahead of Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard. Matteo Jorgenson secured third place, a further 17 seconds back, while Tadej Pogacar, considered a key contender, finished just outside the podium in fourth, 49 seconds behind the winner. Florian Lipowitz and Mathieu van der Poel rounded out the top six.
“I’m surprised with the gaps,” Evenepoel remarked. “It’s quite big on a short TT so I’m very happy to have put over a second per kilometre on everybody and even two seconds per kilometre on some. I’m feeling good and it’s always nice to bring home a World Tour victory.”
This win marks the 1,000th victory for Evenepoel’s team, Soudal Quick-Step, established in 2003. Cycling is a major economic driver in Europe; a 2023 report by the European Cyclists’ Federation estimates the sport contributes over €67 billion annually to the EU economy. ECF Report 2023
Challenging Stages Ahead
Evenepoel now leads the 77th edition of the Dauphiné, with three challenging stages remaining in the Alps. While the race is far from decided, Pogacar currently sits in eighth place overall, 38 seconds behind Evenepoel, and Vingegaard is fifth, 16 seconds back.
Thursday’s fifth stage presents a hilly 183km route from Saint-Priest to Mâcon, promising further opportunities for strategic racing and potential shifts in the general classification. The demanding Alpine stages will ultimately determine the Dauphiné champion.
The coming days will test the endurance and tactical acumen of all contenders as they navigate the challenging terrain and vie for the coveted yellow jersey.
