Remco Evenepoel, the Belgian cyclist representing Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, faced a challenging stage at the UAE Tour on February 21, 2026. During this stage, he lost nearly a minute to stage winner Isaac Del Toro, finishing fifteenth overall. Team director Klaas Lodewyck commented on Evenepoel’s performance, stating, “Remco did not have the legs to compete for the win. He did everything he was supposed to do, but the level of this competition is currently too high for him.” (wielerflits.nl)
Earlier in the tour, Evenepoel had demonstrated his prowess by winning the individual time trial on February 17, 2026, securing the overall lead. However, on the subsequent mountain stage to Jebel Mobrah, he struggled, losing over two minutes to stage winner Antonio Tiberi. Evenepoel attributed his performance to residual fatigue from the previous day’s effort, noting, “I had a tough moment when I had to drop back, but toward the end, I felt I was coming back a bit.” (cyclingflash.com)
Looking ahead, Evenepoel plans to take a few days of rest before heading to Tenerife for an altitude training camp. The upcoming Volta a Catalunya in March is expected to be a significant test as he continues to prepare for the Tour de France. (wielerflits.nl)
Despite the recent setbacks, Evenepoel remains optimistic about his form and is focused on his long-term goals for the season.
Remco Evenepoel’s Performance at UAE Tour:
- ‘It’s a dream come true’ – Antonio Tiberi charges to first WorldTour win as Remco Evenepoel sheds time on UAE Tour stage three, Published on Wednesday, February 18
- How to watch the 2026 UAE Tour: live stream UCI WorldTour stage race from anywhere, Published on Friday, February 20
- Evenepoel: “Todo es muy fácil en el Red Bull Bora”, Published on Sunday, February 15