Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel showcased his time‑trial prowess by winning Stage 16 of the Tour de France, completing the 26.1‑km course around Thonon‑les‑Bains in 32 minutes and 19 seconds. The result bolstered his position as the second‑place contender in the overall classification.
The time trial inaugurated the final week of the race, following a rest day on Monday, while the stage finale—Stage 21—is slated for a Sunday finish in Paris.
Evenepoel, a three‑time world champion in the time trial who also secured both cycling gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, rode a full minute faster than the next rider, with Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar following at 32 minutes 47 seconds.
He remained modest after the win in a race that also saw Red Bull–Bora‑Hansgrohe teammate Florian Lipowitz abandon the tour following a crash on the course.
Pogacar, who narrowly avoided a crash at the same corner as Lipowitz, retained the yellow jersey, trailing Evenepoel by 4 minutes 32 seconds after the Belgian’s second straight stage success. Evenepoel had previously claimed Stage 15 on a mountain finish, outpacing the Slovenian.
Mexico rider Isaac del Toro stayed on the podium after finishing fifth on the day, maintaining third place overall. French 19‑year‑old Paul Seixas moved to fourth in the general classification with a fourth‑place finish. Spanish competitor Juan Ayuso remained fifth, ahead of Denmark’s Mattias Skjelmose, who also secured third on the stage.
Lipowitz had been fifth in the standings entering the time trial, having finished third overall last year, but suffered a right‑shoulder injury when he crashed into a curb, forcing him to abandon.
Stage 17, scheduled for Wednesday, will cover 174.7 km, featuring an early climb from Chambery to Voiron before proceeding along a relatively flat route.
–Field Level Media
