Remco Evenepoel has paid tribute to new coach Tim Heemskerk for his new training approach to the Tour de France, with the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe star also pointing to a significant weight loss as another key component in his revised 2026 program.
Evenepoel has opted for no racing whatsoever between Liège-Bastogne-Liège and his third participation in the Tour de France in as many years, focusing fully on training instead.
In his only previous two participations, for his build-up in 2024, the Belgian raced the Critérium du Dauphiné in June, now known as the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Then, in 2025, he took part in the same event, as well as his home country's National Championships road race and time trial.
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Regarding the weight loss, when Dutch journalist Thijs Zonneveld asked him at the Tour de France official race presentation on Thursday how many kilos lighter he was, Evenepoel answered, "Almost four."
As for his current work with Heemskerk, formerly at Visma-Lease a Bike, Evenepoel told journalists during Thursday's press conference it was progressing steadily and along the right path.
"As a coach, we work well together; for me, it was a different approach, of course," Evenepoel said.
"The team managed to take him on board immediately, and it was just a no-brainer to work together as quickly as possible, after my break following Liège.
"He's a new type of person that I'm working with all the knowledge he has. But maybe that's also just good for me to get more information about all kinds of stuff.
"I try to be as open as possible with him, and for the moment everything has been going very well. So I think the first few months have been good, and I hope it will stay like this for many more."
During an interview with Belgian media last week, Remco confirmed that "We tackled the weight loss in a smart way. My weight has dropped, but the power has remained."
So it was perhaps no coincidence that when asked in the press conference what the biggest innovation in cycling had been in terms of performance in the last five years, Evenepoel argued it had been the closely linked topic of "fuelling strategies."
"I don't think it'sa secret anymore that everybody's taking in a very high intake of sugars, of carbs, so for sure this is something that helps us to not run out of energy if you do it well. That's already the first thing.
"Obviously, all the aerodynamics testing is also getting more and more [effective], so the bikes are getting faster, wheels are getting faster, the clothing is getting faster, so everybody's looking for these little details.
"But in my opinion, food and the fueling strategy are the reason number one why cycling is getting faster."
Evenepoel has already made his ambitions for the 2026 Tour very clear, telling journalists at Thursday's press conference that he wanted to win a stage, the third-week time trial, and the yellow jersey in the opening team time trial.
Then at the far end of the race, he said, "Of course, I also hope to be on the final podium. If I finish fifth and am beaten fair and square, I can live with that too. But I am someone who aims for the top."
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