Start at 58.8 km/h and a 68t chainring: Evenepoel's winning formula in the UAE Tour time trial

Remco Evenepoel once again made a difference in a time trial. This time it was in the second stage of the UAE Tour 2026, winning the individual time trial of 12.2 kilometers held on Hudayriyat Island. The Belgian from Red Bull stopped the clock at 13:03, riding at an average speed of 56.09 km/h, enough to surpass Josh Tarling by six seconds and don the leader's jersey.

More than 500 watts and 68 teeth: Evenepoel dons the leader's jersey in the UAE Tour

Evenepoel's performance was as dominant as usual for the current world and Olympic champion in this discipline. He used a 68-tooth chainring with a 10-28 cassette, a setup that worked well on a completely flat course exposed to the wind. With a 68t, the margin for "running out of gears" disappears, but it requires an enormous ability to push a long gear from the very first meter.

And precisely there was one of the keys. In the first 2.5 kilometers, Evenepoel completed the segment in 2:34, at an average speed of 58.8 km/h and with a maximum peak of 66 km/h. In that stretch, he sustained 510 watts of average power and reached a maximum of 970 watts. These figures explain how he managed to launch the bike to cruising speed practically from the start ramp, consolidating a lead that he later knew how to manage with a steady pace.

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Sustaining that level of power in an extreme aerodynamic position for more than two and a half minutes implies not only physiological capacity but also great stability on the time trial bike. After that explosive start, the Belgian maintained a very steady effort to complete the 12.2 kilometers without visible ups and downs, allowing him to finish the time trial with one of the highest averages seen this season in a WorldTour event.

The choice of the 68-tooth chainring fits with that approach. In a time trial without technical curves or significant changes in pace, the goal is to avoid micro-accelerations and always keep the chain working in the smaller gears, where mechanical efficiency is greater. 

The victory not only gives him the partial win but also places him at the top of the general classification before the mountain stages. With a six-second lead over Tarling and already significant differences compared to other contenders, Evenepoel has launched his candidacy for the final victory.