Evenepoel dominates stage 16 time trial to beat Pogačar

Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) stormed to a dominant victory in the individual time trial on stage 16 of the Tour de France 2026. The Belgian powerhouse was in a class of his own, covering the course in a blistering time of 32:19.

Race leader Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was the only rider to come close, finishing second at 28 seconds. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) produced an excellent ride to take third place, but was a distant 1:04 behind the stage winner.

The pure race against the clock created major time gaps between the general classification contenders, with Evenepoel and Pogačar stamping their authority on the race.

Stage 16 was a crucial test of power and pacing, an individual time trial that was always going to create significant gaps in the overall standings. Specialists including Bruno Armirail (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and the Netcompany INEOS Cycling Team duo of Joshua Tarling and Filippo Ganna all spent time in the hot seat, setting the high bar for the GC contenders.

As the top riders began their efforts, the leaderboard was completely rewritten. Skjelmose was the first to truly threaten the top spot, his powerful ride rocketing him into a provisional podium position.

Evenepoel, however, was on another level. He blitzed the course to set an unbeatable time, and while Pogačar was strong enough for second place, he conceded a significant 28 seconds to his main rival.

• Remco Evenepoel's victory was a powerful statement. Taking back 28 seconds on Pogačar is a significant gain and underlines his status as one of the world's best against the clock.
• While he lost time to Evenepoel, Tadej Pogačar's ride was a masterclass in damage limitation. Finishing second and putting significant time into every other rival strengthens his overall hold on the race lead.
• The breakout rides from youngsters Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) and Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) were the day's biggest surprises. For Seixas, a neo-pro, finishing just 12 seconds off the podium is a stunning result.
• It was a tough day for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, whose leader Matteo Jorgenson finished 2:17 down. Jonas Vingegaard's losses were even greater, effectively denting the team's GC ambitions.
• Mattias Skjelmose's podium finish is a huge result for the Dane. It confirms his superb form and solidifies his position as a contender for a top-five finish in the final classification.