Evenepoel: "I won't risk losing second place."

Remco Evenepoel enters the final stages of the 2026 Tour de France as the most solid challenger to Tadej Pogačar's yellow jersey. With two stage wins and a 4:23 gap from the leader, the Belgian Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider has dashed the dreams of fans hoping for a frontal assault on the legendary Alpe d'Huez climb .
Speaking to Sporza, the Olympic champion declared: « I have no intention of taking crazy risks and jeopardizing my second place ».

A pragmatic stance, reflecting the maturity of an athlete focused on securing a hugely valuable podium in Paris. The UAE is in a tough spot, but Remco is striving for maximum caution. UAE Team Emirates-XRG's difficult moment—marked by McNulty's departure , Yates' crisis , and Wellens 's time limit—could suggest a glimmer of vulnerability in the leader's team.

Evenepoel analyzes the situation realistically, but without being tempted to make any risky moves: " It's not an ideal situation when you're about to face the next few days. But illnesses can happen. It happened to me too. When it happens, you just have to deal with it ." The focus therefore remains on managing your own race: " We still have to evaluate the situation, but I won't take any crazy risks ."

The Del Toro-Seixas battle for the podium is in focus: according to the Belgian, the weakening of Pogačar's team will light the fuse, especially at the back, closing the gap for the third step of the podium and the leadership among the young riders. The spotlight shifts to Decathlon CMA CGM, ready to put pressure on Isaac del Toro, closely followed by Paul Seixas. " I think a team like Decathlon will now do everything they can to attack Del Toro's third place . They might try to determine if he's also suffering from some illness ," the Belgian noted.

It's no coincidence that the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe men's lead-out performance in the final stages of the eighteenth stage echoes Remco's words, with the German team aiming to maintain control of the event, without chasing any utopias in the general classification.