Remco Evenepoel speeds to small milestone in UAE Tour time trial

Remco Evenepoel was widely regarded as the top favorite to win the individual time trial at the UAE Tour, and the Belgian certainly did not disappoint. The leader of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe sped to the fastest time in his rainbow jersey and also took over the leader’s jersey from Isaac Del Toro.

Evenepoel was the only rider to average 56 kilometers per hour over the perfectly flat course on Hudayriyat Island. The three-time world champion had never been this fast against the clock before. "It was a fast time trial since the course was completely flat. It was also not really technical, so it was a perfect time trial to go all out. I’m really happy with it," he said in the post-race flash interview.

For Evenepoel, this is not just another time trial win: it’s actually the first time he has claimed an individual stage victory in the UAE Tour. That was something he had been thinking about beforehand.

"Yes, definitely. In 2023 (as a Soudal Quick-Step rider, ed.) I was part of the winning team time trial, but that year I finished second in both mountain stages. So to now get my first individual win in the UAE Tour is pretty cool."

Battle for Overall Victory
Evenepoel didn’t just win the stage; he also dealt a significant blow to his rivals for the overall title. Isaac Del Toro—his biggest competitor on paper—lost 42 seconds. "I think Isaac gave it his maximum. We knew it was better to start a bit earlier."

"Now we both have a stage win under our belts and from here the fight for the overall victory really begins. With several tough climbs coming up, it’s always better to be able to defend a lead. This is a perfect scenario for us. Now we’re going to try to hold onto the leader’s jersey through Sunday."