Evenepoel Wins Valencia TT Despite Dangerous Winds & Bike Change

Updated February 5, 2026 09:57AM

Remco Evenepoel continued his dominant early-season form, securing his fourth win in five races on Thursday at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana. However, the victory came amidst controversy as race officials made a late decision to require riders to use road bikes instead of time trial bikes due to dangerous wind conditions.

Evenepoel, riding for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, finished ahead of teammate Aleksandr Vlasov in a stage marked by 80kph gusts. While a stage winner was declared, the time gaps were not applied to the general classification, a decision that sparked debate within the peloton.

No TT Bike, No Problem for Evenepoel

Despite the last-minute change, Evenepoel demonstrated his power and skill, completing the 17km course at over 50kph. He expressed respect for the organization’s decision while still seizing the opportunity to compete for the stage win.

“There was still a stage win to grab, and I wanted to respect the organization,” Evenepoel said after the race. “They wanted to let the race continue for stage results and I decided to come and race here. I also respect the decision everybody made. We’re 1 and 2 today with Aleks, so it’s a good result for us. We prepared all day as if it were a TT, so it was better to use this as a good test, and with a good result.”

Reports from Belgian broadcasters HLN and Sporza indicated that Evenepoel initially expressed frustration when informed that time trial bikes were prohibited. He had been observed examining a 64-tooth chain ring on his TT machine prior to the announcement.

Evenepoel acknowledged the need for flexibility in the sport, stating, “We have a sport where we’re allowed to make last-minute decisions, and we have to respect them. We have to be real sportsmen in our minds, and be ready for flexibility. For me it wasn’t a big difference. I know I can also ride fast on a normal bike in a TT.”

Bianiam Girmay retains the overall race lead, as the stage was neutralized for GC purposes.

Peloton Divided: Safety Concerns Raised

The decision to alter the stage wasn’t without opposition. Some riders felt the race should have been stopped altogether, citing unsafe conditions. Movistar’s Cian Uijtdebroeks voiced concerns about the wind and the potential for debris on the course.

“It’s crazy, the course is just unsafe,” Uijtdebroeks said before the stage. “Riding with the TT bike is impossible with the wind gusts, but also the barriers are flying over the road, so even with the road bike, it’s unsafe.”

Teams Petitioned for Change

The change wasn’t solely a decision from race officials. According to reports, teams initiated a discussion with organizers, advocating for a modification to the stage.

Yves Lampaert explained to HLN that teams petitioned race organizers to adjust the stage, stating, “Remco didn’t agree, but we reached that conclusion with several other teams. The rest had to comply with the majority.”

Bauke Mollema echoed the sentiment that prioritizing safety was paramount, stating, “This represents better for safety. There’s a really strong wind. I took the initiative.” He also noted that while racing on road bikes was feasible, a full-fledged time trial under those conditions would have been too dangerous.

The Volta Comunitat Valenciana’s decision follows a similar situation at the Tour Down Under last month, where organizers adjusted the Willunga stage due to the risk of wildfires, highlighting the increasing need for adaptability in professional cycling.