Evenepoel’s UAE Tour Bid Unravels Amidst Early Season Struggles

Remco Evenepoel’s highly anticipated start to the 2026 season with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe hit a significant roadblock at the UAE Tour, as the Belgian star suffered a major time loss on the crucial Stage 3 summit finish of Jebel Mobrah. The setback casts a shadow over his preparations for upcoming clashes with Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard later in the season.

Early Season Highs and a Dramatic Turnaround

Evenepoel began the UAE Tour on a high note, winning the Stage 2 time trial and taking the red leader’s jersey. However, his general classification (GC) hopes were dashed on Wednesday’s mountainous stage, where he lost over two minutes to stage winner Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) and dropped to 11th 1:44 behind the new race leader. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) capitalized on the situation, moving into contention after a challenging start to the climb.

Pacing and Recovery Concerns

Evenepoel attributed his struggles to a combination of factors, including fatigue from the previous day’s time trial and a misjudged pace on the climb. “My legs didn’t feel fresh all day. I hadn’t digested that tough time trial the day before well. At the beginning of that final climb, I got caught by the first attackers, and I paid the price,” Evenepoel stated after the stage. He also acknowledged potentially being overconfident, believing Del Toro had already faded from contention.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe Downplays the Setback

Despite the disappointing result, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team officials were quick to downplay the severity of the situation. Sports Director Klaas Lodewyck suggested Evenepoel may have been overly enthusiastic at the start of the climb, leading to a premature expenditure of energy. “Remco probably hadn’t fully recovered from that time trial, but I think that was the case with several other guys,” Lodewyck told Cyclingnews. “He was also way too enthusiastic at the start of that climb…Remco just had a good feeling, but then he completely exploded.”

Pattern of Inconsistency

The collapse on Jebel Mobrah has highlighted a recurring pattern in Evenepoel’s performances – inconsistency in challenging climbs. Winning stage races demands consistent effort and the ability to limit losses on difficult stages, a challenge Evenepoel will need to address as he targets one-week stage races this year. This isn’t the first time Evenepoel has faced setbacks after strong performances, mirroring similar struggles experienced during the 2023 Vuelta a España.

Looking Ahead

Evenepoel remains determined to salvage a victory from the UAE Tour, setting his sights on Saturday’s summit finish at Jebel Hafeet. The team maintains a long-term perspective, viewing the current setback as a learning opportunity. “Would we have preferred it to be different? Absolutely, but it wasn’t a disaster,” Lodewyck said. “We’re going to try to win another stage with Remco on Saturday.” The priority for Evenepoel is to continue racing without injury or mishaps that have plagued his previous campaigns.

The incident raises questions about Evenepoel’s ability to consistently perform at the highest level against formidable rivals like Vingegaard and Pogačar, but only time will advise if this early-season stumble is an isolated incident or a sign of deeper challenges.