Evenepoel could have won stage 2 of the Tour de France with 'gamble': 'Sometimes it pays off'
CyclingMonday, 06 July 2026 at 16:07
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Follow us on GoogleAfter the team time trial in Stage 1, Remco Evenepoel showed he was in good form again in the second stage of the Tour de France. The Belgian limited his losses with a solo effort on Saturday, and he also had to make up for lost ground during Sunday’s stage. A move that would ultimately cause his rivals to lose some time.
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After the second stage of the Tour de France, the talk was mainly about Isaac del Toro’s stage victory and the dominant performance by UAE Emirates-XRG. Brandon McNulty put the peloton through its paces on two of the three laps up Montjuïc in Barcelona, and Del Toro sealed the deal.
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Tadej Pogacar showed he had plenty of energy to spare, as, clad in his polka-dot jersey, he opened up a gap on Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike), and when he saw that he and Del Toro would stay ahead, he let the young Mexican take the victory.
Behind the UAE duo, Evenepoel settled into third place—not Vingegaard. That earned him 4 bonus seconds, but it was the Belgian’s rapid advance that made the biggest impression. He was too far back when Del Toro attacked, but he came charging like a rocket in the final 100 meters.
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Evenepoel made a small mistake on Stage 2 of the Tour de France
The way Evenepoel broke away from the small group of other general classification contenders and overtook Vingegaard to stay in touch with the winners was very impressive. Still, Evenepoel had to admit that it was the recovery efforts that saved him.
"Overall, the stage went very well. I never ran into any trouble and was always well-positioned, both on the local loop and before that. I felt good on the climbs, and the result was great," he said in an interview with VTM.
So why did he end up with a small gap when Del Toro accelerated hard out of the turn after the final descent? “It was a tactic—to leave a small gap in the turn and lose a bit of speed that way, so I could catch up from behind. But I saw right away that Del Toro and Pogacar kept going.”
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Remco Evenepoel
Evenepoel thinks he could have won Stage 2 of the Tour de France
"It was a one-minute effort, but I managed to get on his wheel in the end. It was a bit of a gamble—sometimes it pays off, and sometimes it doesn't. Not today, but I feel good and the results are there. Hopefully we can keep going like this," Evenepoel added.
There wasn't much disappointment. "I think I could have won. If they had slowed down and I came up from behind... And if I had stayed on their wheel, I might have won, too. I only had that tactic in mind during the penultimate lap, and unfortunately, it didn't work out."
Evenepoel was fine with the fact that the UAE team ultimately put on a show and finished first and second. “It was great to see them finish it off like that. UAE took control from the first lap, so they deserved it. Luckily, I was able to watch it from the front row and not from 50 meters away.”
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- - Muy bien por Del Toro, qué arrancada al final. UAE con control total hoy. Remco también fuerte, eh.michael5406-07-2026
- - McNulty masterclass. You could see half the GC guys on the rivet by lap two. Del Toro is the real deal—composure and a kick. Chapeau.raceready706-07-2026
- - Can someone explain how bonus seconds work at the finish vs intermediate sprints? Do they stack the same for GC?sprocketspiny06-07-2026
- - Fair play to Evenepoel for owning the gamble. He looks sharp—if he’s this punchy on day 2, the first real medium-mountain stage is gonna be fireworks. Vingegaard looked a touch cagey, no?cadencekingm06-07-2026
- - Was the “leave a gap” tactic really smart there? Feels risky when the corners are so fast. If Del Toro and Pogi go, you rarely get back on unless the road kicks up again.tourdeforce906-07-2026
- - UAE-XRG absolutely bossed the laps. McNulty was drilling it, then Pogi/Del Toro finished the job. Still, calling it “dominant” ignores that Remco limited damage twice in two days. Balanced take would help.lindae06-07-2026
- - Quick question: why did Pogacar let Del Toro take the win if he had the legs? Is it because of the polka dots or just team tactics to reward the youngster?velodromevirtuoso106-07-2026
- - Stunning ride by Remco. That late surge past Vinge in the last 100m was savage—looked like a track sprint on Montjuïc. The 4 bonus seconds could matter if the gaps stay tight into the first mountain block.andrewf06-07-2026
- - Mega win, mate! Barcelona crowd absolutely roaring. What a day.raceready706-07-2026
- - Brilliant interview by the way – you can tell he’s buzzing but still grounded. Also shout to Visma and INEOS for helping with the mechanical; sporting spirit isn’t dead.breakawaybikerd06-07-2026
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