Remco Evenepoel faces a Tour de France path featuring 71 kilometers of individual time trials, according to sources. The five-time Tour de France winner expressed skepticism regarding the Belgian rider’s general classification prospects, pointing to mountain stages.
Parcours Designed for Rouleurs
The 2027 Tour de France route features two individual time trials totaling 71 kilometers against the clock—comprising a 38-kilometer test from Blois to Chambord in stage 7 and a 33-kilometer stage around Toulouse in stage 16—alongside three summit finishes. Thierry Gouvenou confirmed in French media that the design deliberately targets riders with strong time-trial capabilities. Gouvenou stated that Evenepoel showed last year he can aim for overall victory, adding that organizers want to give rouleurs a chance to build an advantage over pure climbers.
🇧🇪 Remco Evenepoel reflects on 2026 season🗣️ "The biggest learning of 2026 was my stable Tour de France and the way I grew in the race and was still on a very good level in the third week.”📰 https://t.co/Ho7EUIYTTV📸 Cor Vos pic.twitter.com/zqVZ0ISea0″
Analyzing the historical context, Tom Dumoulin noted in an interview with NOS that the last time a Tour featured more than 100 kilometers against the clock was in 2012, whereas Dumoulin himself faced 90 kilometers of time-trialling during his debut Tour in 2013. Dumoulin observed that the route configuration appears structured to challenge the dominance of Tadej Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates, noting that time-trial kilometers provide the primary weapon to counter Pogacar’s climbing superiority. Pakweg 70 kilometer aan tijdritten, daar gaat mijn hart wel sneller van kloppen,
Dumoulin said, adding that the layout plays into the hands of Evenepoel, who usually has to concede time to better climbers in the mountains, alongside rivals such as Jonas Vingegaard and Paul Seixas.
Hinault Casts Doubt on GC Ambitions
Despite the favorable time-trial distance, Bernard Hinault voiced skepticism regarding Evenepoel’s ability to contest the yellow jersey. Hinault argued that the Tour remains too difficult for him, noting that while Evenepoel made notable progress in reducing weight and climbing better this season, he still struggles under sharp mountain accelerations. Hinault described Evenepoel as a tempo climber who can win individual stages, particularly the two time trials, but dismissed his overall classification chances by stating that Pogacar remains superior and motivated for revenge following the Vuelta. Deze Tour is nog altijd te zwaar voor hem,
Hinault judged.
Unusual Format Choices in the Final Weekend
Beyond the time trials, the 2027 route has sparked debate among riders over its unconventional final weekend structure. Speaking on the podcast Watts Occurring, Geraint Thomas and Laurens De Plus highlighted that the final mountain stage is scheduled for Friday, followed by a flat 198-kilometer stage from Maubourguet to Libourne on Saturday, and the finale in Paris on Sunday featuring three ascents of Montmartre. De Plus expressed astonishment at a Grand Tour featuring a sprint stage on the penultimate day, noting, Ik heb nog nooit een grote ronde gezien waarin de twintigste etappe een sprintetappe was.
Thomas also criticized the race organization’s policy regarding the concluding Paris stage. Following the precedent set in 2025 and 2026, race organizers have neutralized time measurements before the final laps around Montmartre for safety reasons. Thomas argued that the general classification should remain open throughout the entire course, questioning why safety standards in Paris should differ from the sections encountered during the preceding stages of the race. Wat mij betreft verschilt deze etappe in niets van alle andere,
Thomas stated.
Worth a look
