Remco Evenepoel delivered a masterclass in the time-trial discipline on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, dominating the 16th stage of the Tour de France between Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains to finish ahead of Tadej Pogačar and Mattias Skjelmose. The Belgian covered the 26.1-kilometer route along the shores of Lake Geneva in 32 minutes and 19 seconds, maintaining an average speed of 48.45 km/h over a course featuring 500 meters of vertical gain, according to official race data.
Evenepoel’s Record-Pacing Ride on Lake Geneva
The 16th stage offered a crucial test for the overall contenders following the race’s second rest day. The technical profile featured the climb toward Larringes before a rapid descent and a high-speed run into Thonon-les-Bains, as detailed by the official sources. Evenepoel seized control of the stage from the opening hectometers, capturing his second stage victory of the 2026 race following his success at the Plateau de Solaison on July 19.
Race organizers shared post-stage comments where Evenepoel remarked, « Je me sentais vraiment bien, » adding, « Lors des premiers kilomètres, j’ai poussé fort et je me disais d’en garder un peu, mais au final j’avais une belle marge au début. » Tadej also showed impressive form, and while Evenepoel noted, « Je suis content de la manière dont mon chrono s’est passé, mais c’est très triste que [Florian] Lipowitz ait dû abandonner. » He will miss him for the remainder of the competition.
General Classification Impact and the Chase Behind Pogačar
Tadej Pogačar finished the time trial 28 seconds behind Evenepoel, preserving a secure advantage at the top of the general classification for UAE TEAM EMIRATES – XRG. Evenepoel remains firmly in second place overall, cutting into the Slovenian leader’s margin while solidifying his position heading into the final week in the Alps. Mattias Skjelmose of LIDL – TREK secured third place on the stage, finishing 1 minute and 4 seconds down.
French rider Paul Seixas posted a standout performance for DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM, placing fourth on the stage with a deficit of 1 minute and 16 seconds. Seixas finished five seconds ahead of his main rival for the young rider classification, Isaac Del Toro, who maintained the white jersey for UAE TEAM EMIRATES – XRG with a 20-second lead in the overall youth standings.
High Drama and Abandonments in the Alps
While the leaders battled for fractions of a second, the 16th stage brought misfortune to the upper tier of the overall standings. Florian Lipowitz, who started the day fifth in the general classification, suffered a heavy crash in a corner during the final portion of the course. The incident forced the German rider to abandon the race, ending an impressive run in his debut weeks at the Tour.
The stage standings underscored the depth of the field against the clock:
- 1. Remco Evenepoel (RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE) – 32m19s
- 2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE TEAM EMIRATES – XRG) – +28s
- 3. Mattias Skjelmose (LIDL – TREK) – +1m04s
- 4. Paul Seixas (DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM) – +1m16s
- 5. Isaac Del Toro (UAE TEAM EMIRATES – XRG) – +1m21s
Looking Ahead to Stage 17
The 2026 Tour de France continues on Wednesday with the 17th stage, serving as an introduction to the heavy Alpine ascents awaiting the peloton. Riders will face a 174.7-kilometer route from Voiron in Isère to Chambéry in Savoie, featuring 2,200 meters of vertical gain and four categorized climbs designed to test the remaining contenders before the run to Paris.
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