Evenepoel wins 26.1km time trial in 32:19 as Pogacar remains overall leader

Evenepoel completed the 26.1-kilometer individual time trial in 32 minutes, 19 seconds to claim consecutive stage victories at the Tour de France. His effort was more than a minute quicker than Mattias Skjelmose, who had been the fastest before him, and the Belgian rider waited to see Pogacar cross the line with the second-best effort of the day, while Pogacar still leads the race.

The stage was an individual time trial covering 26.1 kilometres, where riders set off alone against the clock. Evenepoel’s 32 minutes, 19 seconds proved decisive on the course, moving him to back-to-back stage wins in the event. Mattias Skjelmose had posted the quickest time until Evenepoel bettered it by over a minute. Tadej Pogacar produced the second-best effort on the day and maintained his position atop the overall standings.

Evenepoel’s finishing time of 32 minutes, 19 seconds stood out as the benchmark for the stage. Before that final ride, Mattias Skjelmose held the quickest mark, but Evenepoel’s run eclipsed it by more than a minute. The margin underscored the Belgian rider’s superiority on the day without altering the race lead.

After setting the fastest time, Evenepoel paused at the finish area to await Pogacar’s arrival. Pogacar’s performance was the day’s second-best, but it did not surpass Evenepoel’s clocking. The sequence left Pogacar in charge of the overall classification despite conceding the stage win.

Skjelmose’s earlier top time and Pogacar’s subsequent second-best effort framed the day’s order behind Evenepoel. The Belgian’s back-to-back stage victories were established through the 26.1-kilometer test against the clock and the decisive 32 minutes, 19 seconds result. Those outcomes defined the stage standings while leaving the general classification unchanged at the top.

Evenepoel’s consecutive stage triumphs on the time trial course and Pogacar’s retention of the yellow remain the principal takeaways from the day. The stage produced a clear fastest time, a notable previous mark by Skjelmose and a strong response from Pogacar that preserved his overall lead.