Evenepoel and Pogacar face off today against the clock: schedules and key points of stage 16 of the Tour de France 2026

The 2026 Tour de France opens its final week with a stage that could completely reorder the battle for the podium. After Jonas Vingegaard's withdrawal at Plateau de Solaison, Remco Evenepoel has become Tadej Pogacar's main rival and now faces the terrain he knows best: the time trial.

Preview of Stage 16 of the 2026 Tour de France: Evenepoel challenges Pogacar in the only individual time trial

Stage 16 will connect Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains over a course of almost 26 kilometers that combines climbing, technical descent, and a faster final section. It will not be a time trial for pure specialists nor a mountain time trial, but a very complete test where effort management will be crucial from the very start ramp.

Key points of Stage 16 of the 2026 Tour de France

• First start: 13:00 h (CEST)
• Arrival of the last rider: around 17:50 h (CEST)
• Route: Évian-les-Bains – Thonon-les-Bains
• Distance: 25.97 km
• Total ascent: 465 meters
• Type of stage: individual time trial

A time trial with no time to find rhythm

The Côte de Larringes sets the tone for the day from the start. It is 9.7 kilometers at 4.3%, a gradient that will allow maintaining the time trial bike and aerodynamic position, but will force the favorites to ride at their limit from the first meters.

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Then comes a fast and technical descent where confidence can be as important as legs. The final kilometers, heading towards Thonon-les-Bains, will shift the focus back to power, although roundabouts, direction changes, and the urban layout will prevent maintaining a completely uniform pace.

Evenepoel, facing his great opportunity

Remco Evenepoel is the clear favorite for victory. The course fits his characteristics: a gentle climb, a descent where he can take risks, and a final part where his aerodynamics should make a difference. Moreover, he arrives bolstered by his victory in stage 15 and with the opportunity to establish himself as the main candidate for second place in the Tour.

Tadej Pogacar can also fight for the win, especially thanks to the ascending first half, although his five-minute lead will allow him to tackle the technical sections with more margin. Filippo Ganna appears as the main alternative among the specialists, while Juan Ayuso, Isaac del Toro, Florian Lipowitz, Mattias Skjelmose, and Paul Seixas will be vying for very important seconds in a general classification that is now much more open.

The stage is unlikely to jeopardize Pogacar's yellow jersey, but it could clearly define the rest of the podium before the final alpine stages.