Evenepoel’s Winning Start: Dominating Form After Move to Bora-Hansgrohe

Remco Evenepoel’s move to Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe is already paying dividends, with the Belgian cyclist enjoying the most successful start to a season of his career. Through February 9, 2026, Evenepoel has secured six victories in just eight days of racing, a run that includes overall victory at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

The 26-year-old, however, playfully discounts one of those wins. “I don’t count a team time trial as an individual victory. Otherwise, I’d have 75 or so victories now, instead of 72,” Evenepoel told VTM Nieuws. “So let’s say What we have is my fifth of the year. But it’s a great start, of course. I’m going to try to keep this up. Now I just need to recover a bit, and then the UAE Tour will come pretty soon.”

Evenepoel’s triumph at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana was sealed with a strategic performance on the final stage, a 94.7-kilometer ride where teammate Emil Herzog played a crucial role. Herzog spent the day in a breakaway, allowing Evenepoel and the chase group to conserve energy and maintain control of the general classification.

The final sprint saw Herzog finish second, while Evenepoel and teammate Giulio Pellizzari crossed the line just two seconds later, securing the overall victory for Evenepoel and third place for Pellizzari. “It’s great to win my first stage race for my new team,” Evenepoel said. “It was already pretty clear along the way that the race was going to be pretty calm. I never got into trouble. I think we always had the situation under control. We finished well. It was a bit hectic at the end with the slippery asphalt and the many corners, but in the end we finished safely. That’s the most important thing.”

The strong start to the season is a marked contrast to the situations facing some of Evenepoel’s key rivals. While Evenepoel is racking up wins, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is not scheduled to begin his season until Strade Bianche next month. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), meanwhile, has been sidelined by a recent crash and illness, forcing him to withdraw from the planned head-to-head with Evenepoel at the upcoming UAE Tour.

Evenepoel’s early-season form clearly establishes him as a frontrunner as the major races approach. “What we’ve worked on a lot is already paying off,” he stated. “Am I worried I’m in shape too early? No, I think that, if I’m a decent winter athlete, I’m always in pretty good shape in the first few weeks. I haven’t had any altitude camps yet. I think we’ll gradually work towards the lightest weight. That means there’s still some room for improvement.”

Despite the momentum, Evenepoel and his team are sticking to their original plan. “No, we’re going to stick to the plan. First the UAE Tour, then a long altitude training camp, and then Catalunya. After that, the Ardennes, my favourite classics, are coming.”

Evenepoel is keen to avoid complacency. “We’re not going to get overconfident and keep taking it one step at a time. It’s great that we’ve already managed to secure this. Now it’s time to look ahead and try to win as much as possible.”

The transition from Deceuninck–Quick-Step to Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe, confirmed in January 2026, appears to have been seamless for the Olympic gold medalist and World Champion. His early-season dominance suggests a potent combination of renewed motivation and a supportive team environment. The cycling world will be watching closely to see if this early success translates into continued victories throughout the season, particularly as he prepares for his challenges against Pogačar and, when fit, Vingegaard.