A Leaner Evenepoel Targets the High Peaks
Remco Evenepoel has arrived at the Tour de France’s first major mountain stage at his lowest competitive race weight in years. Sitting 23 seconds behind overall leaders Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard, the Belgian rider begins stage 6 carrying the physical dividends of a precise, 68-day training block designed specifically to sharpen his climbing form.
The Math Behind the Climb
Evenepoel’s preparation for this Tour involved a departure from his standard mid-season calendar. By bypassing traditional warm-up races like the Critérium du Dauphiné, he gained the window needed to refine his physiology. According to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe sports director Klaas Lodewyck, the rider successfully shed approximately four kilograms while preserving his power output.
The team’s strategy prioritized long-term sustainability over quick fixes. “We took our time, we didn’t rush,” Lodewyck told Cyclingnews. “We find the real balance now, and he can also hold the weight.” This deliberate management is intended to ensure Evenepoel remains a factor during the race’s final week, when fatigue typically dictates the outcome of the most demanding ascents.
Confronting the Tourmalet
Stage 6 presents the first true test of the general classification, forcing the field over the Col d’Aspin and the legendary Col du Tourmalet. For Evenepoel, the Tourmalet carries the shadow of his 2023 Vuelta a España abandonment, but his team is pointedly ignoring the history books.
“I don’t think we should focus too much on [the past] or try to create a black piste,” Lodewyck said. “I think he has already done amazing climbs in the past that were much harder than Tourmalet.”
Managing the UAE Offensive
The tactical reality of the race is currently dictated by the pace-setting of UAE Team Emirates. Following their aggressive start, the team is expected to turn the screws on the upcoming climbs, forcing the rest of the peloton to react.
Lodewyck acknowledges that the race will likely be played out on the terms of the current leaders. “I think with the way they’re racing already so far, I don’t see a big question mark,” he noted. “They’re just going to do what they want to do, and I think all the rest is just a matter of staying as long as possible in their wheel.”
Current Standing and Strategy
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe enters the Pyrenees with a clear objective: maintain proximity to the leaders. With 68 days of concentrated preparation behind him, Evenepoel’s performance on the Tourmalet will determine if his weight-optimization strategy provides the necessary edge to challenge Pogačar and Vingegaard for the yellow jersey.
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