Remco Evenepoel anticipated the question like a tricky switchback on a crucial descent. "I know where you're trying to go with this," he said after a journalist asked him in a pre-Tour de France press conference about the hierarchy in the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team between himself and Florian Lipowitz. Evenepoel flatly denied any tension around the team's dual-leader "the road will decide" strategy.
But his snippy response ("typical for a Dutchman to ask that question") showed the inquiry did annoy him, and on Saturday's opening stage of the 2026 Tour de France, Evenepoel laid down the hint of a marker for Red Bull's campaign, going clear on the last climb of the opening team time trial to finish 16 seconds ahead of his German teammate.
Kit Nicholson
Evenepoel wasn't the only rider to gain separation and clarity from the stage, although luck often as not played a role.
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