TakeWorlds2 weeks ago
Evenepoel favourite for European road title he's missing
Remco Evenepoel goes into Sunday's 2026 UEC Road European Championships road race, part of the European Championships running 2-7 October in Ljubljana, as the leading favourite for his first European road title. He has won the road race and time trial at both the Worlds and Olympics, plus the European time trial and national titles in both disciplines — the road race in Europe is the one he's missing. Defending champion Tadej Pogačar won't be there, ruled out by his season-ending Vuelta a España crash.
What this means
Pogačar's absence removes the rider who beat Evenepoel to both the 2025 European and World road race titles.
Evenepoel arrives off a mixed Worlds in Montreal: his fourth consecutive men's elite time trial title on 20 September, 57 seconds clear of Filippo Ganna in 44:53.13, followed by 12th in the road race on 27 September, 25 seconds behind winner Brandon McNulty. He said afterward it was clear from the first lap that it wasn't his day — «Actually, from the first lap on I felt that I was not having a great day. The strongest always wins at the World Championships, so yeah, that's life.» He described it elsewhere as «pretty shit» and «too tough for me», while also pointing ahead: «There is still a lot to come. Hopefully, things will run a bit better starting next week.» A year ago in these same championships he won the time trial and finished second in the road race, 31 seconds behind Pogačar, having also been runner-up to Pogačar at the 2025 Worlds road race. He also won the 2026 Amstel Gold Race in April.
Sources
2026 European championships road race start lists: Evenepoel eyes first title as Vollering defends crown2026 European Championships men's elite road race preview: Evenepoel and Roglic lead contenders in Slovenia2026 European Road ChampionshipsRoad World Championships: Record-breaking Remco Evenepoel makes it four in a row with blistering time trial performance in Montreal'The lights went out' – No excuses for disappointed Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert as they fail to deliver on expectations at World Championships"There are no excuses" - Remco Evenepoel's double-double dream dies in Montreal disappointment'The lights went out' – No excuses for disappointed Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert as they fail to deliver on expectations at World Championships2025 European Road Championships – Men's road race2025 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race2026 Amstel Gold Race
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