Phoenix 24
Belgian champion closes 2026 with another commanding time trial performance.
LES HERBIERS, FRANCE
Remco Evenepoel delivered a commanding performance at the Chrono des Nations on Sunday, winning the prestigious French individual time trial by more than two minutes over his nearest rival. The Belgian rider completed the 45.43-kilometer course around Les Herbiers in 49 minutes and 53.68 seconds, averaging approximately 54.6 kilometers per hour.
Representing Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, the 26-year-old world time trial champion finished 2 minutes and 11.03 seconds ahead of Australian rider Jay Vine of UAE Team Emirates-XRG. Switzerland’s Stefan Küng, competing for Tudor Pro Cycling Team, completed the podium, 2 minutes and 27.81 seconds behind the winner.
The victory marked Evenepoel’s first elite-level triumph at the Chrono des Nations and his 14th win of the 2026 season. It also brought his professional career total to 81 victories, reinforcing his reputation as one of cycling’s most accomplished specialists against the clock.
Evenepoel established his advantage early and continued extending it throughout the race. His pace was sufficiently high that he caught Vine on the road despite the Australian eventually securing second place.
The result was particularly significant given Vine’s established capabilities in individual time trials. Finishing more than two minutes behind the winner over a relatively short course demonstrated the scale of Evenepoel’s advantage on the day.
Küng, a three-time winner of the event, secured third place after a close contest with France’s Maxime Decomble. The Groupama-FDJ United rider finished fourth, just under six seconds behind the Swiss competitor.
Denmark’s Mikkel Bjerg placed fifth, followed by French rider Rémi Cavagna in sixth. The result highlighted the depth of international competition at an event traditionally attracting leading time trial specialists.
Held annually in Les Herbiers, the Chrono des Nations provides a distinctive conclusion to the European road cycling season. Unlike stage races, where overall standings reflect cumulative performances across several days, the event rewards a single sustained effort against the clock.
The format places exceptional demands on pacing, aerodynamic efficiency and the ability to maintain high power output without the tactical assistance available in conventional road racing.
Evenepoel’s performance illustrated those requirements. Sustaining an average speed above 54 kilometers per hour for nearly 50 minutes requires a combination of physiological capacity, technical preparation and precise management of effort.
However, the recorded speed alone cannot establish which factor contributed most to his victory. Course conditions, equipment, rider preparation and individual physical performance all influence time trial results.
For Evenepoel, the triumph also carried personal significance. He had previously won the junior edition in 2018 but had not managed an elite victory at the event. His earlier appearances included fifth place in 2021 and second behind Joshua Tarling in 2023.
The 2026 result finally added the elite Chrono des Nations title to an already extensive record that includes world championship success and major international victories.
His season has also demonstrated versatility beyond individual time trials, including success in European road competition. That combination underscores the different capabilities required to excel in both sustained individual efforts and tactically complex road races.
The French event concluded with another notable result in the women’s competition, where Maëva Squiban of UAE Team ADQ claimed victory, extending the day’s international significance.
As the professional season draws to a close, Evenepoel’s latest performance provides a clear statistical reference for his competitors. A winning margin exceeding two minutes over 45 kilometers is substantial in a discipline where major contests can be decided by seconds.
The result does not determine what will happen in future championships, where courses, conditions and rivals may differ. It nevertheless confirms the exceptional level of performance Evenepoel achieved in his final competitive appearance of 2026.
Beyond the Finish Line, Performance Matters.