Evenepoel gets ahead of the competition and has already checked out the course for the next Olympic Games

Remco Evenepoel has just wrapped up his 2026 season, but he has already begun working on one of the major goals he will have in two years. The Belgian has taken advantage of a trip to California to reconnoiter part of the course for the time trial at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where he will defend the gold he won in Paris.

Evenepoel is already preparing for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and recognizes the time trial route

The Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rider is in the United States to visit the Specialized facilities in Morgan Hill, an appointment he usually takes advantage of to conduct aerodynamic tests in the wind tunnel and work on his position on the bike. And this year he could have extra work with the new Shiv he is helping to develop.

But outside the Specialized headquarters, he also has work to do, and on Sunday he added an activity that makes his intentions for 2028 quite clear.

On Sunday, October 25, Evenepoel posted on Strava an activity titled "LA 2028 ITT RECON", confirming that he had taken advantage of his stay in Los Angeles to conduct a first reconnaissance of the future Olympic time trial.

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It was about 65 kilometers on his Tarmac SL 9, accompanied by teammates from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, on a ride that included the roads around Griffith Observatory and ended by the sea, in Santa Monica.

Although the final course has not yet been presented, the organization of Los Angeles 2028 has already confirmed some important details. The time trial will be approximately 35 kilometers long, starting at the Los Angeles Zoo and finishing at Griffith Observatory, located on the slopes of Mount Hollywood.

This last part will be especially interesting from a sporting perspective. The finish will be at a high elevation, so the elevation gain and effort management could play a significant role in a discipline where Evenepoel has built much of his palmarès. The UCI has already revealed the general characteristics of the venues, although we will have to wait for the publication of the complete route to know its true demands.

During his stay in California, the Belgian also participated in a ride organized by Specialized alongside other top-level riders, including Demi Vollering.

The 2028 Olympics present a complicated schedule for Tour favorites

Evenepoel made history at Paris 2024 by winning both Olympic road titles, triumphing in both the time trial and the road race. Los Angeles will offer him the opportunity to defend both, although the schedule could considerably complicate his preparation.

The 2028 Olympic Games will take place from July 14 to 30 and have forced the Tour de France to be moved forward. The French race will start on June 24 in Reims and is scheduled to finish on July 16, just three days before the Olympic time trial, set for Wednesday the 19th.

The men's road race will take place on Sunday, July 23, starting in Venice Beach and also finishing at Griffith Observatory.

This means that the top favorites who want to compete in both the Tour and the Olympics will have to face an intercontinental trip and a minimal recovery period. It would not be surprising if some riders chose to modify their schedules to prioritize Olympic medals.