Evenepoel switches to training-only approach to the Tour

Remco Evenepoel was due to take on the same summer programme as he has in the past two years by racing the newly-named Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes before the Tour de France, but this week his team has announced the 2024 podium finisher will skip all competition between now and the Grand Départ in Barcelona. "Contrary to the original plan, he will not race the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,” reads the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe press release. “Instead, in the month of June, he focuses on a balanced mix of recovery, exploring the Tour course and specific training. Prior to that, he will finish an altitude training camp in May.” Team DS Zak Dempster points to an analysis of Evenepoel's racing load so far in 2026, which started in Mallorca in February, and the desire to get him to Barcelona as fresh as possible: "we see more advantage in a balanced alternative program than in adding additional competition tax." Evenepoel's co-leader at the Tour, Florian Lipowitz, is not expected to change his planned route to Barcelona, which will see him fight for victory at the Tour of Slovenia (while two-time winner Tadej Pogačar races the Tour de Suisse).