Remco Evenepoel proved once again that he is cycling’s undisputed time trial king. Just days after conquering the world in Rwanda, the Belgian champion claimed the European time trial title in Êtoile-sur-Rhône, his 23rd professional TT victory and sixth against the clock this season.
Wearing the rainbow jersey, Evenepoel delivered a dominant ride, stopping the clock 43 seconds ahead of Filippo Ganna and 1:08 clear of Denmark’s Niklas Larsen, who edged Great Britain’s Ethan Hayter for bronze by a single second. From the first intermediate check, where he was already 13 seconds up on Ganna, there was no doubt who would own the day.
A champion’s words
Evenepoel’s joy at the finish line was unmistakable. Speaking to Eurosport/CyclingPro.Net, he admitted: I never get used to winning, so it’s the same for this time trial and for this championship.
He reflected on the doubts that followed his earlier season injury: This year, when I restarted after my injuries, one of my main goals was to try and win all the time trial championships. But of course, in the beginning, there were a lot of doubts, to be sure that the shoulder was going to be able to be in that same position, but yeah, I think that’s in the past now.
Dominance on the road
By the second checkpoint, Evenepoel had stretched his lead to 25 seconds, already closing in on former double European champion Stefan Küng, who had started a minute earlier. The power, precision, and pacing of his effort highlighted why he has become cycling’s benchmark in the discipline.
The only hitch came early, when Evenepoel gestured in frustration. Later, he explained that his radio communication failed, leaving him without guidance from his directeur sportif. The only communication that I got was that I had 30 seconds on the bottom of the climb, so then I was a bit more sure about the victory, he said. But of course I went all out to the finish, because I was not sure enough. That was the only negative thing about today.
Recovery and resilience
What made the win even more impressive was the rapid turnaround from the World Championships in Rwanda, where he finished second in the road race just three days earlier. While many riders would have struggled to recover, Evenepoel credited his professionalism and discipline for arriving fresh and ready.
Already on Monday I felt pretty fresh. I really tried to keep the focus because I knew today was coming really quickly. I went early to bed, had a small recovery ride and then just relaxed as much as possible in the hotel,
he explained.
Looking ahead, the Belgian star knows there is one more big test on the horizon: Sunday’s European Road Race Championship. It’s only one big week of racing left, and after that, there’s time enough to let things go and have some other stuff to do. I think that was the key to be ready for here and for next Sunday, he added.
UEC 2025 ITT Results
| Pos | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remco Evenepoel | Belgium | 0:28:26 |
| 2 | Filippo Ganna | Italy | + 00.43 |
| 3 | Niklas Larsen | Denmark | + 01.08 |
| 4 | Ethan Hayter | Great Britain | + 01.09 |
| 5 | Joshua Tarling | Great Britain | + 01.10 |
A statement of supremacy
For Evenepoel, this was more than just another win. It was proof that after injury setbacks, doubts, and a grueling Worlds, he remains at the peak of his powers. His masterclass in France not only adds another title to his glittering palmarès but sets the stage for what could be an unforgettable European road race to close out his remarkable season.