Remco Evenepoel’s blistering start to the 2026 season has prompted analysis of whether the young Belgian is poised to challenge the established order in men’s professional cycling. While Evenepoel has already secured five victories in the first seven days of his campaign, veteran cycling analyst Sean Kelly believes it’s premature to suggest a significant shift in the competitive landscape, particularly concerning Tadej Pogačar’s reaction.
Evenepoel’s early-season dominance, characterized by both the quantity and quality of his wins, has naturally drawn comparisons to Pogačar’s own commanding performances. However, Kelly, a former world number one, downplayed the immediate threat to the Slovenian’s dominance. “I don’t think Pogačar will be worried. For the moment, no,” Kelly told Velo on Saturday.
Kelly emphasized the difference between the current competition and the challenges Evenepoel will face in major races. “Evenepoel is definitely off to a great start, but the opposition he has is not the opposition he is going to come up against when he is going to the big races like the Classics,” he explained. “He will be doing a Liège and Amstel and those ones, and he will come up against the big talented riders there and in some other races as well before that.”
The move to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe over the winter is clearly a factor in Evenepoel’s improved form. After seven years with Soudal Quick-Step, the Belgian has joined a team with significantly greater financial backing, staffing resources, and a roster of established stars. This enhanced support structure is expected to play a crucial role in Evenepoel’s pursuit of major victories.
Beyond the team dynamics, Kelly highlighted the psychological and physical benefits of a change of scenery after a prolonged period with a single organization. Evenepoel has benefitted from a more productive winter training regimen, a stark contrast to the previous year when he was recovering from a collision with a vehicle.
Evenepoel’s victory on , stage 4 of the Volta Comunitat Valenciana, marked his fifth win of the season. He currently holds a commanding lead in the general classification and is heavily favored to secure the overall victory on .
However, Kelly cautioned against interpreting this early success as a definitive indication of a new competitive level. He pointed to Evenepoel’s strong performances in the early stages of previous seasons, specifically citing his dominance at the Algarve race a few years prior, where he won a one-day classic with a significant margin and secured both the individual time trial and the overall title. He also referenced Evenepoel’s strong showing at Paris-Nice.
“I don’t think we can say it is a new level because two or three years ago he started down in Algarve and he was very dominant as well, winning the one day classic they have there,” Kelly stated. “And winning quite a bit in the earlier part of that season. So I don’t think he is in the best form we have seen him in at this time of year.”
Kelly acknowledged Evenepoel’s improved condition compared to , when he didn’t begin racing until April. The current momentum is undeniable, but the veteran analyst prefers to reserve judgment until Evenepoel faces a more challenging field in the major races later in the season.
“I think it is a bit early to say before we get into more races that are contested more by bigger guys, the guys he will be coming up against later in the year.”
Evenepoel’s next scheduled races include the UAE Tour, starting on , followed by the Volta Catalunya, the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The planned participation of Jonas Vingegaard in the UAE Tour has been cancelled due to illness, but Evenepoel will still face stiff competition from riders like Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG).
Whether Evenepoel can sustain his current form and translate it into success against the sport’s elite remains to be seen. However, his early-season performances have undoubtedly injected a new dynamic into the men’s professional cycling scene, and may well force Pogačar to take notice.
