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REMCO EVENEPOEL
BELGIUM, RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE Tour results: 3rd in 2024
★ ★ ★ STRENGTHS: A three-time world time trial champion, the Belgian is the best time triallist on the planet. As well as being fast and explosive in a sprint, solo breakaways are like food and drink to him.
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WEAKNESSES: The absence of a long, flat time trial on the 2026 route doesn’ t suit him. In the high mountains, he remains a step below the other podium contenders. A temperamental rider, his form can fluctuate wildly, between very good and very bad. |
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KÉVIN VAUQUELIN
FRANCE, NETCOMPANY- INEOS CYCLING TEAM Tour results: 7th in 2025
★ ★ STRENGTHS: Seventh last year, the rider from Normandy is an excellent rouleur and doesn’ t have hang-ups in the mountains any more. Having fitted in well at Ineos after a successful start to the season, his partnership with Onley could open doors for him.
WEAKNESSES: This time, the opening week isn’ t hilly. As a result, the challenge for him will be to climb right up in the standings from the off before limiting his losses, because Vauquelin is still not the best in the high mountains.
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THOMAS PIDCOCK
GREAT BRITAIN, PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM Tour results: 13th in 2023
★ ★ STRENGTHS: Now focusing on road racing, the Englishman demonstrated his consistency in the mountain stages of the 2025 Vuelta( 3rd). But the Tour is a different kettle of fish for this brilliant puncheur and descender.
WEAKNESSES: As leader of a team that is fairly weak in the mountains, he’ ll often have to fend for himself. The double Olympic mountain bike champion doesn’ t have that much experience in time trials either.
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JUAN AYUSO
SPAIN, LIDL-TREK Tour results: abandoned in 2024
★ ★ STRENGTHS: The high mountains are the Spaniard’ s forte. Also punchy and very solid in time trials, he should be able to compete with the best. He certainly seems to have been liberated in his strong new team.
WEAKNESSES: Inconsistent in his performances, Ayuso hasn’ t done well in the general classification of a Grand Tour since the 2023 Vuelta( 4th). He’ s also had a mixed start to the year, largely due to a heavy crash at Paris-Nice – the day after donning the yellow jersey. ●
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PHOTOGRAPHS: TIM DE WAELE / GETTY IMAGES, BILLY CEUSTERS / ASO, SZYMON GRUCHALSKI / GETTY IMAGES, JEAN-BAPTISTE AUTISSIER / L’ EQUIPE |
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22 | TOUR DE FRANCE 2026 |