'A big step forward' – Remco Evenepoel decimates competition in stage 16 time trial at Tour de France
World champion dominates rivals against the clock as he took back nearly half a minute on the yellow jersey
Time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel took a dominant victory in the time trial at the Tour de France beating his key rival by nearly half a minute.
The Belgian took his second stage win of the Tour as he clocked a time of 32.19 over the 26km course.
No one could come close and he clawed back 28 seconds on Tadej Pogačar in the yellow jersey.
However, he said the win was “bitter sweet” as his Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team-mate Florian Lipowitz, who was sat fifth on GC at the beginning of the day, crashed out of the race in the closing kilometres.
Evenepoel said after the finish: “It was a very nice TT with a lot of people on the side of the road. My whole family from both sides are here, may parents came here just today and my wife and her parents and her siblings as well.
“On Belgium national day it’s pretty special as well. I read this morning it’s been a while since a Belgian won on Belgian national day so I’m proud to be the one.”
He added: “I’ve just been told my teammate Lipowitz crashed so it’s a bitter sweet pill to swallow [today]… I will really miss him for the last week.”
The Belgian, still wearing his rainbow stripped skinsuit, thanked his bike supplier Specialized for “all the new materials” for the time trial.
Having beaten the yellow jersey for two stages in a row Evenepoel was asked if he felt he could now challenge for overall Tour victory, despite being 4.32 in arrears, he said: “Obviously not, I’m just focused on my own spot. Tadej is on his way to win a fifth Tour de France. It’s amazing I can be close to him and it’s an honour to race with him because he’s maybe the best ever.
“So for me it’s just a big step forward to be a bit around him and I try to learn from him.”
However, he did acknowledge he has been improving through the race so far. “It’s no secret the hardest stages are all in the end of the Tour,” he said. “I wasn’t super super good in the first week, I was good but not amazing.
“I needed the first week to really get into race rhythm again. My coach, the performance staff, everybody, I need to thank them for the trust they have in me.”
While it was the Belgian who would end the day in the hot seat Brit Josh Tarling (Netcompany Ineos) set the early pace with a 34.21 at the finish.
The early drama came courtesy of Huub Artz (Lotto–Intermarché) narrowly escaped a crash after having to break to avoid the Astana-XDS car on a descent. He still set the second fastest time at that point.
The impressiveness of Tarling’s ride was hammered home when his more decorated team-mate Filippo Ganna missing his time by just four seconds. The Italian said: “I’m happy for him, he started this Tour with an injury after the Dauphine and is still dragging up his shape. The last week could be more interesting for him.”
Bruno Armirail (Visma-Lease a Bike) was the next to pose a serious challenge the Brit and was six seconds up entering the final two kilometres and finished strongly to set a new fastest time of 34.14. So deep was his effort he nearly vomited after coming to a stop.
He was then unseated by Mattia Cattaneo (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), who shaved a further 13 seconds off the best time with a 34.01.
As Cattaneo was out on course there was more drama of the unwanted variety as Thymen Arensman missed his start time. As the clock ticked down to zero the Dutchman was nowhere to be seen. He rolled up around 10 seconds late shaking his head and was forced by the commissaire to pause before setting off, presumably to ensure he didn’t carry any momentum and gain an advantage.
He’d regret that mistake come the finish as he slotted into second place just four seconds off Cattaneo’s time.
Given the tightness of the gaps between most of the time trial finishers it caused shock when Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) crossed the second checkpoint 27 seconds faster than anyone else.
Further back down the road the World Champion at the discipline Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) was causing shocks of his own going through the first check point 21 seconds faster than anyone else. The man who sat second on GC was putting time into yellow jersey wearer Tadej Pogačar who came through six seconds slower.
In the battle for the white jersey Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG) was neck and neck with Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) come the second time check.
Next through was Evenepoel who decimated the competition going 55 seconds faster than Skjelmose. Tadej Pogačar was the only challenger to the Belgian’s time, only 14 seconds slower.
At the finish line Sexias and Del Toro set similar times but the Frenchman had the edge by five seconds.
The battle for the stage was set to be between the two riders sat atop the GC. Evenepoel was the first across the line with a time of 32.19, the Slovenian in yellow put in a strong showing but was ultimately 28 seconds slower, enough for second on the stage.
1. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) in 32:19:33
2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), +28s
3. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), +1:04
4. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM), +1:16
5. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), +1:21
6. Thymen Arensman (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), +1:41
7. Mattia Cattaneo (Netcompany INEOS), +1:46
8. Bruno Armirail (Visma-Lease a Bike), +1:55
9. Pablo Castrillo (Movistar), +1:59
10. Joshua Tarling (Netcompany INEOS), +2:02
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, in 56:14:18
2. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Redu Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, +4:32
3. Isaac del Toro (Mex) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +6:51
4. Paul Seixas (Fra) Decathlon CMA CGM, +7:11
5. Juan Ayuso (Esp) Lidl-Trek, +9:22
6. Mattias Skjelmose (Den) Lidl-Trek,+10:14
7. Lenny Martinez (Fra) Bahrain-Victorious, +12:50
8. Tom Pidcock (Gbr), Pinarello Q36.5, +12:58
9. Jordan Jegat (Fra) ToralEnergies, +22:50
10. Yannis Voisard (Sui) Tudor Pro Cycling, +24:18