Jebel Mobrah, UAE – Remco Evenepoel’s dominant start to the 2026 season hit a jarring halt Wednesday at the UAE Tour, as the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider lost over two minutes on the decisive summit finish and effectively surrendered his general classification hopes. The setback raises questions about the Belgian’s form and consistency as he prepares for a season targeting major stage races and a potential Tour de France debut.
Evenepoel, who had begun the day in the race leader’s red jersey following a blistering time trial victory on Tuesday, struggled on the final seven kilometers of the climb, ultimately crossing the finish line well behind stage winner Antonio Tiberi of Bahrain Victorious. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) finished second, capitalizing on Evenepoel’s difficulties and moving into contention for the overall lead.
“My legs didn’t feel fresh all day. I hadn’t digested that tough time trial the day before well. At the beginning of that final climb, I got caught by the first attackers, and I paid the price,” Evenepoel said at the finish line, according to Cyclingnews. He added that the climb was “poorly paced,” suggesting a tactical miscalculation on his part.
The collapse came after a remarkable run of success for Evenepoel, with seven wins in ten race days. His time trial victory on Tuesday, achieved with an oversized chainring selected in consultation with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s Head of Engineering Dan Bigham, had appeared to signal a continuation of that momentum. Bigham had emphasized the importance of gearing choices for efficiency, stating that “the simplest way to explain my job is that I try to make riders go faster without them having to work harder.”
However, Wednesday’s performance revealed a vulnerability in Evenepoel’s climbing ability, a characteristic that has occasionally surfaced in past races. While capable of explosive bursts, maintaining consistent power on extended ascents remains a challenge. This inconsistency is particularly concerning given his ambition to compete with the likes of Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard in grueling stage races.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team officials downplayed the severity of the setback. Klaas Lodewyck, a DS for the team, attributed Evenepoel’s struggles to fatigue from the previous day’s time trial and an overly aggressive start to the climb. “Remco probably hadn’t fully recovered from that time trial, but I think that was the case with several other guys,” Lodewyck told Het Nieuwsblad. “He was also way too enthusiastic at the start of that climb. If you saw where Del Toro was, he really had to pace himself.”
Lodewyck dismissed suggestions of a more serious issue, stating, “If you see the values from that first kilometer, it makes sense. But I don’t think it was pure cramps.” He emphasized that February form can be unpredictable and that Evenepoel’s aggressive approach may have simply backfired.
The UAE Tour has seen several top contenders participate this year, though Vingegaard withdrew due to illness and a crash, and Pogačar is slated to make his season debut at Strade Bianche next month. Evenepoel now sits 11th 1:44 behind the new race leader. He has vowed to target another stage win on Saturday’s summit finish at Jebel Hafeet, echoing a pattern of aggressive racing even after losing GC contention, as seen in the 2023 Vuelta a España.
“Would we have preferred it to be different? Absolutely, but it wasn’t a disaster,” Lodewyck said. “We’re going to try to win another stage with Remco on Saturday.” Thursday’s stage is expected to favor sprinters, offering a respite before the final climbing challenge.
