Remco Evenepoel is on fire, and the cycling world is taking notice. With five wins in just seven days of racing, he’s proving that Tadej Pogačar might not have it as easy as everyone thought this year. The Belgian sensation continued his audacious rampage on Stage 4 of the Volta Comunitat Valenciana, delivering a performance that left rivals in the dust and fans in awe.
On Saturday, February 7, 2026, Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) launched a daring attack on the Puig de la Llorença with 13km to go, surging ahead of a select group of riders and soloing to victory in Teulada Moraira. His relentless pace left strong contenders like João Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), and Brandon McNulty (UAE Emirates-XRG) scrambling to keep up. But Evenepoel was unstoppable, crossing the line 24 seconds ahead of Almeida, Giulio Pellizzari, and Tiberi, while McNulty trailed by 36 seconds and Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) by 1:02.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Evenepoel’s early-season dominance isn’t just about his legs—it’s about his mindset. “It was really difficult,” he admitted post-race. “The headwind made it hard to keep up, but I knew if it was tough for me, it was tougher for them. So I just kept pushing.” This grit, combined with his time trial prowess, has made him nearly untouchable. But is his success sustainable? Or is he peaking too early? Let the debate begin.
This win follows a string of victories, including three in the Challenge Mallorca races and a dominant individual time trial in Stage 2 of the Valenciana race. Yet, Saturday’s triumph felt personal. Evenepoel was disappointed by the race organizers’ decision to neutralize the GC times in the time trial due to strong winds, which prevented him from taking the overall lead earlier. And this is the part most people miss: Despite the setback, he turned frustration into fuel, reclaiming the race lead with a 29-second advantage over Almeida heading into Sunday’s finale.
Sunday’s stage to Valencia, a mere 94.7km with a first-category climb midway, is likely to end in a bunch sprint. But Evenepoel’s Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team is ready to defend his jersey. “The team was incredible today,” he said. “From start to finish, they worked flawlessly. Nobody helped us, but we executed our plan perfectly.” With Pellizzari’s third-place finish as a testament to their teamwork, Evenepoel’s squad is firing on all cylinders.
If he secures the GC win, it’ll be his sixth victory of the season—in February. With bigger races ahead, his morale and that of his team are sky-high. Meanwhile, McNulty and Sheffield, in their season opener, have shown promising form, leaving fans eager to see what they’ll do next.
Here’s the burning question: Is Remco Evenepoel the rider to beat this year, or is his early dominance a flash in the pan? Share your thoughts below—let’s spark a conversation!
