Evenepoel claims Stage 16 victory as Tour de France general classification remains unchanged

Remco Evenepoel has won the individual time trial on Stage 16 of the Tour de France, reinforcing his position as the primary challenger to the race leader. The Belgian rider completed the course between Évian and Thonon, finishing 28 seconds ahead of Tadej Pogacar and 1 minute 4 seconds ahead of Mattias Skjelmose.

The victory marks Evenepoel’s second stage win in as many days, following his triumph at Plateau de Solaison. The three-time world time trial champion’s performance on Stage 16 ensures he remains second in the general classification, trailing Pogacar by 4 minutes 32 seconds. Pogacar retains the yellow jersey and the overall lead in the race.

Despite the time gap, Evenepoel’s result has significantly increased his advantage over the third-placed rider. Skjelmose, who finished 1 minute 4 seconds behind Evenepoel in the stage, now faces a larger deficit in the battle for the podium positions. The stage results highlight the competitive intensity of the race as it approaches the final Alpine stages.

The peloton is now set to tackle Stage 17, which runs from Chambéry to Voiron over a distance of 174.7 km. This stage is expected to offer sprinters a final opportunity for a flat-stage victory before the terrain becomes increasingly mountainous. The route change signals a shift in the race dynamics as the Tour de France moves toward its decisive conclusion.

This report focuses on the sporting outcomes of the Tour de France. Other recent developments in international sport include Fabio Quartararo’s move to Honda’s factory team for the 2027 and 2028 MotoGP seasons, and the retirement announcements of English referee Anthony Taylor and Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.