Remco Evenepoel secured a dominant victory in the 26-kilometer individual time trial between Evian and Thonon-les-Bains on Tuesday, July 21, cutting his deficit in the overall Tour de France standings. The Red Bull Bora leader finished the stage fastest, outpacing yellow jersey holder Tadej Pogačar by 28 seconds. With this performance, Evenepoel sits 4:32 behind Pogačar in the general classification as the race heads into its final, decisive mountain stages.
Evenepoel’s Time Trial Dominance
Following his stage win at the plateau de Solaison on July 19, Evenepoel reaffirmed his form against the clock. Navigating the 26-kilometer course, the Belgian rider maintained a high pace that proved insurmountable for the rest of the field. Pogačar finished second, while Denmark’s Mattias Skjelmose secured third place. French rider Paul Seixas completed the day in fourth.
By reclaiming 28 seconds from the race leader, he has tightened the gap in the general classification.
Florian Lipowitz Withdraws After Crash
The stage was marred by a significant incident involving Florian Lipowitz. The German rider, who held fifth place in the general classification entering the day, abandoned the race following a heavy crash in a turn. Lipowitz, who finished third in the Tour de France 2025, was trailing Pogačar by 6:48 in the standings at the time of the accident.
The Road to the Final Mountains
The peloton faces a transition stage on Wednesday, July 22, traveling from Chambéry to Voiron. This 17th stage is widely expected to favor baroudeurs-sprinteurs, offering a brief reprieve before the race reaches its climax. The Tour de France continues with three days in the mountains, which will determine the final podium.
The competition remains intense as riders prepare for the final ascent.
