Merckx: Tour de France Will Be a Major Test for Evenepoel

Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx has declared that the 2026 Tour de France will be a “grand examen” — a major test — for fellow Belgian Remco Evenepoel, as the 26-year-old prepares to lead Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in the sport’s most prestigious race. Speaking in an interview with La Libre Belgique and Het Nieuwsblad, the 81-year-old five-time Tour winner shared his candid assessment of the contenders ahead of the race, which begins Saturday, 4 July, with a team time trial in Barcelona.

A Defining Moment for Evenepoel

Merckx, widely regarded as the greatest cyclist of all time with 525 career victories, acknowledged Evenepoel’s immense talent but pointed to the high mountains as the Belgian’s critical area for improvement. After finishing third in both the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Tour, Evenepoel enters his third consecutive Tour with a new team and a new co-leadership dynamic alongside German rider Florian Lipowitz.

“Remco has tremendous qualities. He’ll likely beat Pogacar in the time trial,” Merckx told Het Nieuwsblad, as reported by Domestique Cycling. “But the Tour is still decided in the mountains, and that’s where he needs to prove he’s improved.”

Merckx added that Evenepoel’s performances on long climbs earlier this season had not been quite up to standard, but expressed hope that dedicated training camps would pay off. “I hope he delivers in the high mountains, too,” Merckx said. “His performance on long climbs wasn’t quite there earlier this season, but with those training camps under his belt, he should climb better.”

Evenepoel’s move from Soudal Quick-Step to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe marks a significant shift in his career. For the first time since his Grand Tour debut in 2021, he will share leadership duties — a dynamic he has embraced. In an interview with The Athletic, Evenepoel said: “If Tadej is at a super high level then it’s very difficult to beat him, especially when you’re alone. So then it’s better to be with two.”

Pogacar on Course for History

Merckx was unequivocal in identifying Tadej Pogacar as the overwhelming favourite for a fifth Tour de France title. The Slovenian world champion, riding for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, has dominated the sport in recent years and is widely expected to join Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as a five-time winner.

“Pogacar, of course,” Merckx said when asked who he expects to win. “It’s wonderful to see the ease with which he climbs. He’s definitely going to win the Tour five times. Maybe even six. Would I mind if he equalled and then broke my record? Not at all.”

As Cyclingnews reported, Merckx acknowledged that Jonas Vingegaard remains a potential threat to Pogacar, though he expressed doubt about the Dane’s ability to topple the champion. “Perhaps Vingegaard can really put him under pressure,” Merckx said. “Though I fear it will be very difficult.”

Seixas and the Next Generation

Merckx also turned his attention to 19-year-old French debutant Paul Seixas, who will become the youngest Tour starter since 1937. The teenager has enjoyed a remarkable debut professional season, winning Flèche Wallonne and the Tour of the Basque Country, and finishing second at Strade Bianche and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

“Nineteen is young to go to the Tour, but we all saw how good he was at Liège-Bastogne-Liège,” Merckx said. “We all hope he can stay close to Pogacar on the climbs.”

Merckx also expressed admiration for Isaac del Toro, the young Mexican rider on UAE Team Emirates-XRG who arrives at his debut Tour after a stellar season. “The way Pogacar climbs. The same goes for del Toro,” Merckx said. “It all looks so much easier than it was in my day.”

The Breitling Partnership

The interview took place at the Grand Sablon in Brussels during the launch of a new Breitling Top Time B01 Eddy Merckx limited-edition watch, featuring a yellow dial in reference to the maillot jaune. Only 525 pieces are being produced — one for each of Merckx’s career victories — underscoring the enduring brand power of the man they call “The Cannibal.”

What to Watch For

As the 2026 Tour de France gets underway this weekend, all eyes will be on Evenepoel to see whether he can translate his time trial prowess and new team dynamics into a genuine challenge for the yellow jersey. A Belgian has not won the Tour since Lucien Van Impe in 1976, and Merckx’s words carry the weight of a nation’s hopes. For Evenepoel, the mountains of France will provide the answer to the question that defines his career: can he graduate from podium finisher to Tour champion?

With Pogacar chasing history, Vingegaard seeking redemption, and Seixas representing the future, this year’s edition promises to be one of the most compelling in recent memory.