Remco Evenepoel enjoyed his first time

For years, the chosen one – the man destined to bring the yellow jersey back to Belgium – had battled against that enigma known as the climb. And he had always been defeated. Remco Evenepoel, the finest time-trialist of recent times and one of the most talented riders of the last few years, had always had to watch his rivals’ backs – and sometimes lose sight of them altogether. It seemed as though it would always be that way. The climb can be ruthless, especially when you’re up against outstanding riders, one in particular: Tadej Pogačar.

That’s how it had been for so long. Then, one Sunday in mid-July, on a climb in the French Pre-Alps, everything changed. Perhaps not everything, but certainly something. Remco Evenepoel first kept pace with the tempo that Tadej Pogačar had set for his team-mate Isaac Del Toro – and it’s not half bad having the yellow jersey as your pacemaker – then he responded to two attacks from the Mexican, before finally launching his own attack when the finish line was within touching distance. Remco Evenepoel won the fifteenth stage of the 2026 Tour de France. He won beneath the finish banner at the top of a climb, the Plateau de Solaison. A climb making its debut on the Tour’s route. He finished ahead of Tadej Pogačar, who was certainly not in his all-conquering form, but nor, it must be said, was he passive. The Belgian rejoiced, more for having lifted a burden as heavy as a mountain from his shoulders than for the stage victory itself. In his eyes was a composed sense of disbelief, mixed with bold determination. And a mocking grin from someone who knows he has shattered a carefully laid plan.

UAE Team Emirates were ready to celebrate another stage victory, this time for Isaac Del Toro. Tadej Pogačar had done everything he could to ensure that happened. When he realised it wasn’t going to happen, he tried to make up for it himself. Perhaps a little too late, perhaps lacking the right conviction, perhaps with his legs a bit sluggish from having to ride at a slower pace than he is used to. The fact remains that the plan fell through.

Not the only one today, but certainly the least painful. Several kilometres earlier, another one had vanished into thin air.

Jonas Vingegaard’s hopes of challenging Tadej Pogačar were dashed by a kerb twenty-two kilometres from the finish. And, as is almost always the case in such situations, the kerb won. The Dane ended his Tour de France in an ambulance – a regrettable conclusion for one of the strongest riders in the peloton, one of the few who had a chance, however slim, of challenging the yellow jersey’s supremacy.

The many, truly many, Danes who had lined the road leading to the Plateau de Solaison were left disappointed. Certainly not as much as the Team Visma rider who was gradually becoming convinced that his form was improving and that his chances of winning at least one stage in this Tour were growing. There will never be any proof to the contrary, nor even any proof at all. All that remains is an absence, the bitter taste of challenges we will never see.

On Tuesday, Remco Evenpoel will be the penultimate rider to set off in the Tour’s time trial. In Thonon-les-Bains, he could be one minute behind the yellow jersey and have a lead of almost two minutes over the rider in third place, Isaac Del Toro. Yellow spots have appeared in the Belgian’s mind, urging him to chase them. Remco Evenepoel is an optimist who believes he is the strongest, even when reality suggests otherwise. The Belgian couldn’t care less about reality; he is a dreamer.