{"id":2065424,"date":"2026-07-27T11:24:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T08:24:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2065424"},"modified":"2026-07-27T11:24:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T08:24:08","slug":"even-the-biggest-champions-dont-last-forever-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe-prepare-remco-evenepoel-for-tour-de-france-victory-challenge-when-pogacar-begins-to-struggle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2065424","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Even the biggest champions don&#8217;t last forever&#8217; \u2013 Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe prepare Remco Evenepoel for Tour de France victory challenge when Poga\u010dar begins to struggle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-2500-80.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 1 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zRoJ8eJpSCi2PYGNPJJJWT-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zRoJ8eJpSCi2PYGNPJJJWT-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-4 h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">1<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    &#8216;With all those people, something was bound to go wrong&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel strengthens his Tour de France position despite being blocked by fans and motorbikes on Alpe d&#8217;Huez\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 2 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SxFWtYXjE9RfzEwVnxSDYU-160-80.png.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SxFWtYXjE9RfzEwVnxSDYU-80-80.png.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">2<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s five-star Tour de France performance was his least stressful yet, and paved the way for his very promising successor &#8211; Philippa York analysis\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 3 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">3<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    Remco Evenepoel is on the rise but the battle for the Tour de France podium is far from settled \u2013 Analysis\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRed Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRemco Evenepoel\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;Even the biggest champions don&#8217;t last forever&#8217; \u2013 Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe prepare Remco Evenepoel for Tour de France victory challenge when Poga\u010dar begins to struggle<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-27T11:24:08Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n27 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">DS Patxi Vila points at Poga\u010dar&#8217;s own Tour past as possible way to move forward for Belgian champion<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Evenepoel took a big step forward this year, but was it a step closer to beating Poga\u010dar?<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">8<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-7e820c7a-89ab-11f1-b3bd-c534f656d537\">With headlines about Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s second place making him &#8216;best of the rest&#8217; or &#8216;the first mortal&#8217; at the Tour de France, the question that will likely occupy Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe over the coming months and until next July is: just how off the charts is it to think of beating Tadej Poga\u010dar one day?<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Right now, it&#8217;s pretty far-fetched as an idea,&#8221; is how sports director Patxi Vila responds when asked about Poga\u010dar&#8217;s current superiority and if an end is in sight short-term.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-7e820c7a-89ab-11f1-b3bd-c534f656d537-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Given the margin of nearly six and a half minutes separating the now five-time Tour winner and his closest challenger on GC in the 2026 race, it&#8217;s hard to disagree.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">However, as Vila tells <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, further down the line it&#8217;s maybe not quite as simple as that.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For one thing, the rate of progress Evenepoel has shown over the last few months is such that it strongly suggests the Belgian star has no small degree of room for improvement. And Poga\u010dar&#8217;s own track record in the Tour also offers some clues as to what could, on paper, be possible for the Red Bull racer in the future.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;It was a good decision&#8217; \u2013 Is Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s controversial break from racing behind his rising Tour de France form arc?<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Remco Evenepoel is on the rise but the battle for the Tour de France podium is far from settled \u2013 Analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;It would be typically Belgian just to find the negatives&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel bounces back from mini-crisis to move onto Tour de France GC podium<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Not only that, as Vila points out, but not even the greatest-ever athletes like Poga\u010dar can dominate forever. So if the Slovenian seems like he&#8217;s in another league right now, Red Bull&#8217;s idea is to go on preparing Evenepoel to be ready to go all-out when Pogaar inevitably shows signs of running out of steam.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Targets are there to be beaten and even the biggest champions reach a point when they&#8217;ve stopped being so dominant,&#8221; Vila told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> just a few hours before the Tour reached Paris.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qoTVXngjzK8UnvdsuMH3XQ\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qoTVXngjzK8UnvdsuMH3XQ slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;So each day that goes by is a day less for when that day comes, and we have to be ready for it.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We know that Poga\u010dar will be difficult to challenge, but we should concentrate on the steps we&#8217;ve already taken as a team. In this Tour we&#8217;ve shown we&#8217;re capable of going head to head with any squad.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-a5712b48-89ad-11f1-9dbd-433d943dfcc7\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Evenepoel took an important win ahead of Poga\u010dar on stage 15 <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-a5712bb6-89ad-11f1-b5bb-b588cbcd757a\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The best news for Evenepoel&#8217;s camp is not just how much he&#8217;s progressed this July, but in what areas and when, Vila says. It is clear that Evenepoel is not just better at climbing, but he also was getting better in the third week, just when the race was at its toughest \u2013 and as the team had planned and hoped would happen.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Just try to ride the third week of my life&#8217; \u2013 No room for getting carried away for Remco Evenepoel despite becoming closest challenger to Poga\u010dar at Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;You should not consider it as boring at all&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel defends Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s Tour de France dominance<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Only winning is good enough&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel faces unreasonably high Belgian expectations at Tour de France, writes Thomas De Gendt<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;He&#8217;s taken a lot of major steps in terms of being very consistent throughout,&#8221; Vila says. &#8220;And he has known how to handle the bad moments, too, above all in the first week, which also forms part of any Grand Tour racer&#8217;s success.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;The plan was to go from less to more up to the third week: not just him, the whole team, Maxim [Van Gils] and Jai [Hindley] have been phenomenal, too and we really did miss Florian [Lipowitz \u2013 who crashed out on stage 16] in these last few days, too.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It would have been very different to play the Tour game with two leaders rather than one, and given Florian and Remco&#8217;s different talents it could have been very interesting to see what they could. Just like the rest of our riders, he was getting better in the last part of the race, too.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;But that&#8217;s just been the way it worked out, and we can&#8217;t change that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As for Evenepoel&#8217;s progress in the third week, the fact he was on the up in week three just when most of the peloton was seriously beginning to flag can only be encouraging, Vila says. On top of which, even the toughest stage of the Tour to Alpe d&#8217;Huez across three HC monster climbs of the calibre of the Croix de Fer, Galibier and Col de Sarenne was &#8220;only just been out of his reach,&#8221; with Evenepoel finishing second and a scant 25 seconds behind stage winner Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost).<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;That has to give him a lot of motivation and show him he&#8217;s on the right road. &#8216;Always focus on the process&#8217; is what I tell the riders, and if you control the process, results like Saturday&#8217;s will come without asking,&#8221; Vila argues, before pointing to how even Poga\u010dar has had to regroup and rethink his approach to take the next step forward.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;A rider has been stronger than us this July, but you accept it, and Remco&#8217;s progress in the last two or three months in particular has been notable regardless. He&#8217;s made a lot of changes and they have brought us to the best ever Remco, and from here who knows what the limit will be?<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I remember Tadej won two or three Tours then had a bit of a setback&#8221; \u2013 losing the 2022 and 2023 Tours after winning in 2020 and 2021 \u2013 &#8220;and he had to reinvent himself, he came back even stronger. Let&#8217;s see if Remco can do that as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-qoTVXngjzK8UnvdsuMH3XQ\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-qoTVXngjzK8UnvdsuMH3XQ slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Alasdair Fotheringham<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, he has also written for <em>The Independent<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>ProCycling<\/em>, <em>The Express<\/em> and <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It was a good decision&#8217; \u2013 Is Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s controversial break from racing behind his rising Tour de France form arc?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Remco Evenepoel is on the rise but the battle for the Tour de France podium is far from settled \u2013 Analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It would be typically Belgian just to find the negatives&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel bounces back from mini-crisis to move onto Tour de France GC podium<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Just try to ride the third week of my life&#8217; \u2013 No room for getting carried away for Remco Evenepoel despite becoming closest challenger to Poga\u010dar at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;You should not consider it as boring at all&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel defends Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s Tour de France dominance<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Only winning is good enough&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel faces unreasonably high Belgian expectations at Tour de France, writes Thomas De Gendt<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I&#8217;ll stay focused until Saturday&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s 24 hours of Tour de France celebrations end with a criterium win and a night at home<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">What next for Paul Seixas? Two weeks of rest, more training and racing, and the long-term picture post-Tour de France debut<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5uMbabmoskBj3SV9sCnCH6-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5uMbabmoskBj3SV9sCnCH6-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5uMbabmoskBj3SV9sCnCH6-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5uMbabmoskBj3SV9sCnCH6-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5uMbabmoskBj3SV9sCnCH6-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Rating every Tour de France team&#8217;s performance \u2013 The good, the great and the downright disappointing<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iLTEfzvJViu9P8R9b485wH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iLTEfzvJViu9P8R9b485wH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iLTEfzvJViu9P8R9b485wH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iLTEfzvJViu9P8R9b485wH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iLTEfzvJViu9P8R9b485wH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sepp Kuss hoping to ride Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a for Grand Tour treble after &#8216;crazy fast&#8217; but &#8216;enjoyable&#8217; Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TcC3FJV5k6R3LB6Y7UnvkK-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TcC3FJV5k6R3LB6Y7UnvkK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TcC3FJV5k6R3LB6Y7UnvkK-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TcC3FJV5k6R3LB6Y7UnvkK-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TcC3FJV5k6R3LB6Y7UnvkK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;A year I was thinking about this&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel moves from pneumonia-spoiled run to Tour de France Paris stage dream<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NgHtE9nHTzeHRxDKwjnEE8-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NgHtE9nHTzeHRxDKwjnEE8-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NgHtE9nHTzeHRxDKwjnEE8-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NgHtE9nHTzeHRxDKwjnEE8-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NgHtE9nHTzeHRxDKwjnEE8-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">\u2018I\u2019m not thinking about any history, clubbing, or whatever&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France winner Tadej Poga\u010dar has his name in lights but keeps his feet on the ground<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in News<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I&#8217;ll stay focused until Saturday&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s 24 hours of Tour de France celebrations end with a criterium win and a night at home<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">What next for Paul Seixas? Two weeks of rest, more training and racing, and the long-term picture post-Tour de France debut<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pMM4KNDeR3gXoihPHY2iL4-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pMM4KNDeR3gXoihPHY2iL4-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pMM4KNDeR3gXoihPHY2iL4-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pMM4KNDeR3gXoihPHY2iL4-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pMM4KNDeR3gXoihPHY2iL4-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Canyon-SRAM reveal colourful kit for Tour de France Femmes backing ambitious new &#8216;We Femmes&#8217; campaign<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PqHT6tAEcmKoD5jmV4kymX-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PqHT6tAEcmKoD5jmV4kymX-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PqHT6tAEcmKoD5jmV4kymX-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PqHT6tAEcmKoD5jmV4kymX-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PqHT6tAEcmKoD5jmV4kymX-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It was a tough race&#8217; &#8211; Netcompany Ineos kick-off Tour de France review after failing to win a stage<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AKPYwTXys5nHGBTjMjRD6H-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AKPYwTXys5nHGBTjMjRD6H-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AKPYwTXys5nHGBTjMjRD6H-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AKPYwTXys5nHGBTjMjRD6H-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AKPYwTXys5nHGBTjMjRD6H-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;My first big hit out against every single big rider&#8217; \u2013 Zoe B\u00e4ckstedt relishes star-studded time trial test at debut Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4zKMy9RWdACwW2D5a6kSK9-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4zKMy9RWdACwW2D5a6kSK9-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4zKMy9RWdACwW2D5a6kSK9-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4zKMy9RWdACwW2D5a6kSK9-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4zKMy9RWdACwW2D5a6kSK9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Australian national champion Mackenzie Coupland debuts in varied Liv AlUla Jayco line-up for Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice\">\n<section class=\"popular-box\" data-component-name=\"Slice:PopularBox\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">\nLATEST ARTICLES\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8FnfhuQeMdMCotfxPmKW9-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8FnfhuQeMdMCotfxPmKW9-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8FnfhuQeMdMCotfxPmKW9-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8FnfhuQeMdMCotfxPmKW9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"99vw\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;I never imagined it would happen&#8217; \u2013 What does it mean to win your first Tour de France Femmes stage? Two 2025 winners relive their victories<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>What next for Paul Seixas? Two weeks of rest, more training and racing, and the long-term picture post-Tour de France debut<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Canyon-SRAM reveal colourful kit for Tour de France Femmes backing ambitious new &#8216;We Femmes&#8217; campaign<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Battle of the brands: Which sponsors came out on top at the 2026 Tour de France?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Tadej Poga\u010dar has proven he&#8217;s the best of all time, I don&#8217;t see anyone challenging him for another two years \u2013 Sean Kelly&#8217;s Tour column<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRed Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRemco Evenepoel\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;Even the biggest champions don&#8217;t last forever&#8217; \u2013 Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe prepare Remco Evenepoel for Tour de France victory challenge when Poga\u010dar begins to struggle<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-27T11:24:08Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n27 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">DS Patxi Vila points at Poga\u010dar&#8217;s own Tour past as possible way to move forward for Belgian champion<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">Evenepoel took a big step forward this year, but was it a step closer to beating Poga\u010dar?<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">8<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-7e820c7a-89ab-11f1-b3bd-c534f656d537\">With headlines about Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s second place making him &#8216;best of the rest&#8217; or &#8216;the first mortal&#8217; at the Tour de France, the question that will likely occupy Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe over the coming months and until next July is: just how off the charts is it to think of beating Tadej Poga\u010dar one day?<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Right now, it&#8217;s pretty far-fetched as an idea,&#8221; is how sports director Patxi Vila responds when asked about Poga\u010dar&#8217;s current superiority and if an end is in sight short-term.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-7e820c7a-89ab-11f1-b3bd-c534f656d537-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Given the margin of nearly six and a half minutes separating the now five-time Tour winner and his closest challenger on GC in the 2026 race, it&#8217;s hard to disagree.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">However, as Vila tells <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, further down the line it&#8217;s maybe not quite as simple as that.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For one thing, the rate of progress Evenepoel has shown over the last few months is such that it strongly suggests the Belgian star has no small degree of room for improvement. And Poga\u010dar&#8217;s own track record in the Tour also offers some clues as to what could, on paper, be possible for the Red Bull racer in the future.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;It was a good decision&#8217; \u2013 Is Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s controversial break from racing behind his rising Tour de France form arc?<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Remco Evenepoel is on the rise but the battle for the Tour de France podium is far from settled \u2013 Analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;It would be typically Belgian just to find the negatives&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel bounces back from mini-crisis to move onto Tour de France GC podium<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Not only that, as Vila points out, but not even the greatest-ever athletes like Poga\u010dar can dominate forever. So if the Slovenian seems like he&#8217;s in another league right now, Red Bull&#8217;s idea is to go on preparing Evenepoel to be ready to go all-out when Pogaar inevitably shows signs of running out of steam.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Targets are there to be beaten and even the biggest champions reach a point when they&#8217;ve stopped being so dominant,&#8221; Vila told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> just a few hours before the Tour reached Paris.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qoTVXngjzK8UnvdsuMH3XQ\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qoTVXngjzK8UnvdsuMH3XQ slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;So each day that goes by is a day less for when that day comes, and we have to be ready for it.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We know that Poga\u010dar will be difficult to challenge, but we should concentrate on the steps we&#8217;ve already taken as a team. In this Tour we&#8217;ve shown we&#8217;re capable of going head to head with any squad.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-a5712b48-89ad-11f1-9dbd-433d943dfcc7\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Evenepoel took an important win ahead of Poga\u010dar on stage 15 <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-a5712bb6-89ad-11f1-b5bb-b588cbcd757a\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The best news for Evenepoel&#8217;s camp is not just how much he&#8217;s progressed this July, but in what areas and when, Vila says. It is clear that Evenepoel is not just better at climbing, but he also was getting better in the third week, just when the race was at its toughest \u2013 and as the team had planned and hoped would happen.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Just try to ride the third week of my life&#8217; \u2013 No room for getting carried away for Remco Evenepoel despite becoming closest challenger to Poga\u010dar at Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;You should not consider it as boring at all&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel defends Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s Tour de France dominance<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Only winning is good enough&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel faces unreasonably high Belgian expectations at Tour de France, writes Thomas De Gendt<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;He&#8217;s taken a lot of major steps in terms of being very consistent throughout,&#8221; Vila says. &#8220;And he has known how to handle the bad moments, too, above all in the first week, which also forms part of any Grand Tour racer&#8217;s success.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;The plan was to go from less to more up to the third week: not just him, the whole team, Maxim [Van Gils] and Jai [Hindley] have been phenomenal, too and we really did miss Florian [Lipowitz \u2013 who crashed out on stage 16] in these last few days, too.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It would have been very different to play the Tour game with two leaders rather than one, and given Florian and Remco&#8217;s different talents it could have been very interesting to see what they could. Just like the rest of our riders, he was getting better in the last part of the race, too.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;But that&#8217;s just been the way it worked out, and we can&#8217;t change that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As for Evenepoel&#8217;s progress in the third week, the fact he was on the up in week three just when most of the peloton was seriously beginning to flag can only be encouraging, Vila says. On top of which, even the toughest stage of the Tour to Alpe d&#8217;Huez across three HC monster climbs of the calibre of the Croix de Fer, Galibier and Col de Sarenne was &#8220;only just been out of his reach,&#8221; with Evenepoel finishing second and a scant 25 seconds behind stage winner Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost).<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;That has to give him a lot of motivation and show him he&#8217;s on the right road. &#8216;Always focus on the process&#8217; is what I tell the riders, and if you control the process, results like Saturday&#8217;s will come without asking,&#8221; Vila argues, before pointing to how even Poga\u010dar has had to regroup and rethink his approach to take the next step forward.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;A rider has been stronger than us this July, but you accept it, and Remco&#8217;s progress in the last two or three months in particular has been notable regardless. He&#8217;s made a lot of changes and they have brought us to the best ever Remco, and from here who knows what the limit will be?<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I remember Tadej won two or three Tours then had a bit of a setback&#8221; \u2013 losing the 2022 and 2023 Tours after winning in 2020 and 2021 \u2013 &#8220;and he had to reinvent himself, he came back even stronger. Let&#8217;s see if Remco can do that as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">TOPICS<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Road<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-qoTVXngjzK8UnvdsuMH3XQ\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-qoTVXngjzK8UnvdsuMH3XQ slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5QLhaPay9asJvmaNsCjFVZ.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Alasdair Fotheringham<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, he has also written for <em>The Independent<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0 <em>ProCycling<\/em>, <em>The Express<\/em> and <em>Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It was a good decision&#8217; \u2013 Is Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s controversial break from racing behind his rising Tour de France form arc?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Remco Evenepoel is on the rise but the battle for the Tour de France podium is far from settled \u2013 Analysis<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It would be typically Belgian just to find the negatives&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel bounces back from mini-crisis to move onto Tour de France GC podium<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Just try to ride the third week of my life&#8217; \u2013 No room for getting carried away for Remco Evenepoel despite becoming closest challenger to Poga\u010dar at Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;You should not consider it as boring at all&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel defends Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s Tour de France dominance<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Only winning is good enough&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel faces unreasonably high Belgian expectations at Tour de France, writes Thomas De Gendt<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Teams &amp; Riders<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I&#8217;ll stay focused until Saturday&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s 24 hours of Tour de France celebrations end with a criterium win and a night at home<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">What next for Paul Seixas? Two weeks of rest, more training and racing, and the long-term picture post-Tour de France debut<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5uMbabmoskBj3SV9sCnCH6-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5uMbabmoskBj3SV9sCnCH6-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5uMbabmoskBj3SV9sCnCH6-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5uMbabmoskBj3SV9sCnCH6-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5uMbabmoskBj3SV9sCnCH6-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Rating every Tour de France team&#8217;s performance \u2013 The good, the great and the downright disappointing<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iLTEfzvJViu9P8R9b485wH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iLTEfzvJViu9P8R9b485wH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iLTEfzvJViu9P8R9b485wH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iLTEfzvJViu9P8R9b485wH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/iLTEfzvJViu9P8R9b485wH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sepp Kuss hoping to ride Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a for Grand Tour treble after &#8216;crazy fast&#8217; but &#8216;enjoyable&#8217; Tour de France<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TcC3FJV5k6R3LB6Y7UnvkK-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TcC3FJV5k6R3LB6Y7UnvkK-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TcC3FJV5k6R3LB6Y7UnvkK-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TcC3FJV5k6R3LB6Y7UnvkK-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TcC3FJV5k6R3LB6Y7UnvkK-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;A year I was thinking about this&#8217; \u2013 Mathieu van der Poel moves from pneumonia-spoiled run to Tour de France Paris stage dream<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NgHtE9nHTzeHRxDKwjnEE8-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NgHtE9nHTzeHRxDKwjnEE8-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NgHtE9nHTzeHRxDKwjnEE8-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NgHtE9nHTzeHRxDKwjnEE8-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/NgHtE9nHTzeHRxDKwjnEE8-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">\u2018I\u2019m not thinking about any history, clubbing, or whatever&#8217; &#8211; Tour de France winner Tadej Poga\u010dar has his name in lights but keeps his feet on the ground<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in News<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XbKLrGYSPE2FCzMYbQtSVP-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I&#8217;ll stay focused until Saturday&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s 24 hours of Tour de France celebrations end with a criterium win and a night at home<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LZbxQRLVyt6Rt5ZWmPkNeH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">What next for Paul Seixas? Two weeks of rest, more training and racing, and the long-term picture post-Tour de France debut<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pMM4KNDeR3gXoihPHY2iL4-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pMM4KNDeR3gXoihPHY2iL4-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pMM4KNDeR3gXoihPHY2iL4-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pMM4KNDeR3gXoihPHY2iL4-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pMM4KNDeR3gXoihPHY2iL4-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Canyon-SRAM reveal colourful kit for Tour de France Femmes backing ambitious new &#8216;We Femmes&#8217; campaign<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PqHT6tAEcmKoD5jmV4kymX-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PqHT6tAEcmKoD5jmV4kymX-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PqHT6tAEcmKoD5jmV4kymX-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PqHT6tAEcmKoD5jmV4kymX-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PqHT6tAEcmKoD5jmV4kymX-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;It was a tough race&#8217; &#8211; Netcompany Ineos kick-off Tour de France review after failing to win a stage<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AKPYwTXys5nHGBTjMjRD6H-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AKPYwTXys5nHGBTjMjRD6H-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AKPYwTXys5nHGBTjMjRD6H-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AKPYwTXys5nHGBTjMjRD6H-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AKPYwTXys5nHGBTjMjRD6H-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;My first big hit out against every single big rider&#8217; \u2013 Zoe B\u00e4ckstedt relishes star-studded time trial test at debut Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4zKMy9RWdACwW2D5a6kSK9-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4zKMy9RWdACwW2D5a6kSK9-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4zKMy9RWdACwW2D5a6kSK9-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4zKMy9RWdACwW2D5a6kSK9-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/4zKMy9RWdACwW2D5a6kSK9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Australian national champion Mackenzie Coupland debuts in varied Liv AlUla Jayco line-up for Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice\">\n<section class=\"popular-box\" data-component-name=\"Slice:PopularBox\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">\nLATEST ARTICLES\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8FnfhuQeMdMCotfxPmKW9-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8FnfhuQeMdMCotfxPmKW9-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8FnfhuQeMdMCotfxPmKW9-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/T8FnfhuQeMdMCotfxPmKW9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"99vw\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;I never imagined it would happen&#8217; \u2013 What does it mean to win your first Tour de France Femmes stage? Two 2025 winners relive their victories<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>What next for Paul Seixas? Two weeks of rest, more training and racing, and the long-term picture post-Tour de France debut<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Canyon-SRAM reveal colourful kit for Tour de France Femmes backing ambitious new &#8216;We Femmes&#8217; campaign<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Battle of the brands: Which sponsors came out on top at the 2026 Tour de France?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Tadej Poga\u010dar has proven he&#8217;s the best of all time, I don&#8217;t see anyone challenging him for another two years \u2013 Sean Kelly&#8217;s Tour column<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTeams &amp; Riders\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRed Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRemco Evenepoel\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;Even the biggest champions don&#8217;t last forever&#8217; \u2013 Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe prepare Remco Evenepoel for Tour de France victory challenge when Poga\u010dar begins to struggle<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nAlasdair Fotheringham <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-07-27T11:24:08Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n27 July 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">DS Patxi Vila points at Poga\u010dar&#8217;s own Tour past as possible way to move forward for Belgian champion<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">8<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-7e820c7a-89ab-11f1-b3bd-c534f656d537\">With headlines about Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s second place making him &#8216;best of the rest&#8217; or &#8216;the first mortal&#8217; at the Tour de France, the question that will likely occupy Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe over the coming months and until next July is: just how off the charts is it to think of beating Tadej Poga\u010dar one day?<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Right now, it&#8217;s pretty far-fetched as an idea,&#8221; is how sports director Patxi Vila responds when asked about Poga\u010dar&#8217;s current superiority and if an end is in sight short-term.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-7e820c7a-89ab-11f1-b3bd-c534f656d537-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Given the margin of nearly six and a half minutes separating the now five-time Tour winner and his closest challenger on GC in the 2026 race, it&#8217;s hard to disagree.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">However, as Vila tells <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>, further down the line it&#8217;s maybe not quite as simple as that.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">For one thing, the rate of progress Evenepoel has shown over the last few months is such that it strongly suggests the Belgian star has no small degree of room for improvement. And Poga\u010dar&#8217;s own track record in the Tour also offers some clues as to what could, on paper, be possible for the Red Bull racer in the future.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AiQGTNvq4wV9XT8PtLHC3S-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;It was a good decision&#8217; \u2013 Is Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s controversial break from racing behind his rising Tour de France form arc?<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KuhLSDwjdxdwEhrLkc7Sd7-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">Remco Evenepoel is on the rise but the battle for the Tour de France podium is far from settled \u2013 Analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CJxPyyhkDZUijG7x9N8xid-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;It would be typically Belgian just to find the negatives&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel bounces back from mini-crisis to move onto Tour de France GC podium<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Not only that, as Vila points out, but not even the greatest-ever athletes like Poga\u010dar can dominate forever. So if the Slovenian seems like he&#8217;s in another league right now, Red Bull&#8217;s idea is to go on preparing Evenepoel to be ready to go all-out when Pogaar inevitably shows signs of running out of steam.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;Targets are there to be beaten and even the biggest champions reach a point when they&#8217;ve stopped being so dominant,&#8221; Vila told <em>Cyclingnews<\/em> just a few hours before the Tour reached Paris.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qoTVXngjzK8UnvdsuMH3XQ\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-qoTVXngjzK8UnvdsuMH3XQ slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;So each day that goes by is a day less for when that day comes, and we have to be ready for it.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We know that Poga\u010dar will be difficult to challenge, but we should concentrate on the steps we&#8217;ve already taken as a team. In this Tour we&#8217;ve shown we&#8217;re capable of going head to head with any squad.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-a5712b48-89ad-11f1-9dbd-433d943dfcc7\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JwN5RDmMyzTHQpxvayT399-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Evenepoel took an important win ahead of Poga\u010dar on stage 15 <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-a5712bb6-89ad-11f1-b5bb-b588cbcd757a\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The best news for Evenepoel&#8217;s camp is not just how much he&#8217;s progressed this July, but in what areas and when, Vila says. It is clear that Evenepoel is not just better at climbing, but he also was getting better in the third week, just when the race was at its toughest \u2013 and as the team had planned and hoped would happen.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TVzDoFu3LZqS9Y9RFckjEN-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Just try to ride the third week of my life&#8217; \u2013 No room for getting carried away for Remco Evenepoel despite becoming closest challenger to Poga\u010dar at Tour de France<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/2KdtWzqCpxy3BYdtvQsQkm-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;You should not consider it as boring at all&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel defends Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s Tour de France dominance<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/CZEVvXJSXdg39mQVz8Q7a4-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Only winning is good enough&#8217; \u2013 Remco Evenepoel faces unreasonably high Belgian expectations at Tour de France, writes Thomas De Gendt<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;He&#8217;s taken a lot of major steps in terms of being very consistent throughout,&#8221; Vila says. &#8220;And he has known how to handle the bad moments, too, above all in the first week, which also forms part of any Grand Tour racer&#8217;s success.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;The plan was to go from less to more up to the third week: not just him, the whole team, Maxim [Van Gils] and Jai [Hindley] have been phenomenal, too and we really did miss Florian [Lipowitz \u2013 who crashed out on stage 16] in these last few days, too.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;It would have been very different to play the Tour game with two leaders rather than one, and given Florian and Remco&#8217;s different talents it could have been very interesting to see what they could. Just like the rest of our riders, he was getting better in the last part of the race, too.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;But that&#8217;s just been the way it worked out, and we can&#8217;t change that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">As for Evenepoel&#8217;s progress in the third week, the fact he was on the up in week three just when most of the peloton was seriously beginning to flag can only be encouraging, Vila says. On top of which, even the toughest stage of the Tour to Alpe d&#8217;Huez across three HC monster climbs of the calibre of the Croix de Fer, Galibier and Col de Sarenne was &#8220;only just been out of his reach,&#8221; with Evenepoel finishing second and a scant 25 seconds behind stage winner Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost).<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;That has to give him a lot of motivation and show him he&#8217;s on the right road. &#8216;Always focus on the process&#8217; is what I tell the riders, and if you control the process, results like Saturday&#8217;s will come without asking,&#8221; Vila argues, before pointing to how even Poga\u010dar has had to regroup and rethink his approach to take the next step forward.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;A rider has been stronger than us this July, but you accept it, and Remco&#8217;s progress in the last two or three months in particular has been notable regardless. He&#8217;s made a lot of changes and they have brought us to the best ever Remco, and from here who knows what the limit will be?<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I remember Tadej won two or three Tours then had a bit of a setback&#8221; \u2013 losing the 2022 and 2023 Tours after winning in 2020 and 2021 \u2013 &#8220;and he had to reinvent himself, he came back even stronger. Let&#8217;s see if Remco can do that as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><em><strong>The world\u2019s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/even-the-biggest-champions-dont-last-forever-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe-prepare-remco-evenepoel-for-tour-de-france-victory-challenge-when-pogacar-begins-to-struggle\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/aPFbSXnHt45YcDmgLzFCaM-2500-80.jpg&#8221;] 1 &#8216;With all those people, something was bound to go wrong&#8217; &#8211; Remco Evenepoel strengthens his Tour de France position despite being blocked by fans and motorbikes on Alpe d&#8217;Huez 2 Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s five-star Tour de France performance was his least stressful yet, and paved the way for his very promising successor [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-2065424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2065424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2065424"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2065424\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2065424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2065424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2065424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}