Evenepoel dominates the time trial, beats Pogacar again, and closes in on the overall standings of the Tour

Remco Evenepoel secured his second consecutive victory in the 2026 Tour de France by dominating the individual time trial of 26.1 kilometers between Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains. The world champion in this discipline clocked a time of 32:19 and surpassed Tadej Pogacar by 28 seconds, the only rider able to stay relatively close to his record.

 Evenepoel crushes the time trial and cuts time from Pogacar

Mattias Skjelmose completed the stage podium at 1:04, while Paul Seixas and Isaac Del Toro continued their particular battle for the third place in the general classification and the white jersey. The day also saw the serious crash and subsequent withdrawal of Florian Lipowitz, who lost control of his bike on the technical descent after the Côte de Larringes.

Evenepoel took advantage of the only individual time trial of this edition to reduce the gap with Pogacar from five minutes to 4:32. The Slovenian still maintains a wide lead in the general classification, but the Belgian strengthens his second place and distances himself from Del Toro, Seixas, and the rest of the podium contenders.

Evenepoel makes a difference from the first kilometers

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The route was divided into three very distinct zones. The riders first faced the Côte de Larringes, a 9.7-kilometer climb at 4.3%; then came a fast and technical descent towards Lake Léman; and the time trial ended with eight predominantly flat kilometers to Thonon-les-Bains.

Evenepoel set out determined to impose his status as a great specialist. At the first checkpoint, located at kilometer 4.8, he was already seven seconds ahead of Pogacar and 22 ahead of Del Toro.

The gap continued to grow during the ascent. At the top of the Côte de Larringes, the Belgian had a 14-second lead over the yellow jersey, while Skjelmose was already losing 55 seconds. Evenepoel had built a lead of over a minute on most riders aiming to finish among the best.

The descent could have changed the race. It was a fast descent, with several tricky turns, which both Evenepoel and Pogacar had scouted multiple times before the stage. The Belgian maintained his advantage without any setbacks and passed through the third intermediate point with 16 seconds over the leader.

Pogacar also had to correct his trajectory after his rear wheel slipped in one of the turns, although he managed to keep the bike upright and continue without consequences.

In the final flat section, Evenepoel again increased the gap. He crossed the finish line with more than a minute to spare over Skjelmose's provisional time and waited for Pogacar, who finished 28 seconds behind.

Skjelmose completes the podium and Seixas surpasses Del Toro

Behind the two main favorites, Mattias Skjelmose delivered a solid time trial. The Lidl-Trek rider finished third at 1:04 and regained some ground lost during the last mountain stages.

Paul Seixas also confirmed his good adaptation to the fight against the clock. The Frenchman finished fourth, 1:16 behind Evenepoel, and gained five seconds on Isaac Del Toro, who was fifth at 1:21.

This small margin reduces the difference between them in the general classification to just 20 seconds. Del Toro retains third place and the lead in the young riders' classification, but Seixas keeps the fight open before the big alpine stages.

Juan Ayuso was one of the main casualties among the Top 10 riders. The Spaniard finished outside the top ten of the stage and only moved up to fifth place in the general classification due to Lipowitz's withdrawal. Skjelmose closed in on Ayuso, although he still remains 52 seconds behind.

Tom Pidcock continues in eighth place, now 12:58 behind Pogacar, while Lenny Martinez holds onto seventh place.

Florian Lipowitz withdraws after a serious crash

The worst news of the day for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe came during the descent of the Côte de Larringes. Florian Lipowitz entered a turn too quickly, was thrown over his bike, and fell hard onto his shoulder.

The German lay on the asphalt while being attended to by medical services. He ultimately had to be evacuated by ambulance and withdrew from the Tour.

Lipowitz was in fifth place in the general classification, 6:48 behind Pogacar, and was one of the two Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe riders in the Top 5. His withdrawal leaves Evenepoel as the sole team leader for the general classification and allows Ayuso, Skjelmose, Martinez, and Pidcock to move up one position.

A definitive medical diagnosis regarding the injuries suffered by the German is still not available.

Arensman loses 13 seconds before starting

Thymen Arensman was involved in another notable situation during the time trial. The Netcompany INEOS cyclist arrived late at the starting point and began his effort 13 seconds after the designated signal.

Despite this setback, he finished seventh at 1:47 behind Evenepoel and just five seconds behind Mattia Cattaneo, who took sixth place. Without that delay, he would have been very close to the Italian.

Cattaneo was one of the first riders to set an important benchmark, while Bruno Armirail, Pablo Castrillo, and Joshua Tarling also managed to stay in the Top 10.

Evenepoel strengthens his second position

The victory allows Evenepoel to cut 28 seconds from Pogacar and leave his deficit at 4:32. It remains a considerable difference before the final mountain stages, but the Belgian clearly extends his margin over the other podium contenders.

Del Toro is now 2:19 behind Evenepoel and Seixas is at 2:39. The tightest battle remains precisely between the Mexican and the Frenchman, separated by just 20 seconds.

Lipowitz's withdrawal reorganizes the rest of the Top 10. Ayuso moves up to fifth place, Skjelmose is sixth, Martinez seventh, and Pidcock eighth. Jordan Jegat and Yannis Voisard complete the top ten positions.

Top 10 of stage 16 of the 2026 Tour de France

1. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) – 32:19
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – at 28 seconds
3. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) – at 1:04
4. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) – at 1:16
5. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – at 1:21
6. Mattia Cattaneo (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) – at 1:42
7. Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS) – at 1:47
8. Bruno Armirail (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) – at 1:55
9. Pablo Castrillo (Movistar Team) – at 2:00
10. Joshua Tarling (Netcompany INEOS) – at 2:02

Top 10 of the general classification

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 56:14:18
2. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) – at 4:32
3. Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – at 6:51
4. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) – at 7:11
5. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) – at 9:22
6. Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) – at 10:14
7. Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) – at 12:50
8. Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – at 12:58
9. Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) – at 22:50
10. Yannis Voisard (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – at 24:18