Evenepoel Boils Over After Second Place on Alpe d’Huez
Belgian cycling star Remco Evenepoel delivered one of the most emotionally charged moments of the 2026 Tour de France on Saturday, snapping at his own team after finishing second on the legendary Alpe d’Huez climb. According to Sporza, the 26-year-old Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider crossed the line 26 seconds behind stage winner Richard Carapaz and immediately dismissed the celebratory atmosphere from his team, shouting: “Waarom vieren jullie?” (“Why are you celebrating?”) and “Ik ben tweede, ik heb niet gewonnen!” (“I am second, I did not win!”).
The Queen Stage Battle
Stage 20 of the Tour de France lived up to its billing as the queen stage, covering 170.9 kilometres from Le Bourg d’Oisans to Alpe d’Huez with a punishing 5,450 metres of elevation gain. The route featured four major climbs — Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, Col du Galibier, and Col de Sarenne — before the iconic final ascent. As BBC Sport reported, Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) claimed his second stage win in three days after a dramatic turn of events that saw American Sepp Kuss crash twice while leading in the final kilometres, nearly falling off a cliff on the treacherous descent.
Evenepoel launched a late attack with three kilometres remaining, finishing second at +26 seconds. Kuss held on for third at +31 seconds despite his double crash. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), who secured his record-equalling fifth Tour de France victory, chose to pace his young teammate Isaac del Toro across the line arm-in-arm rather than contest the stage, helping the 22-year-old Mexican secure third place overall and the white jersey for best young rider.
An Emotional Rollercoaster
Evenepoel’s frustration was directed primarily at press officer Gabriele Uboldi, who approached the Belgian with congratulations only to be met with a sharp rebuke. “Stop met jouw show!” (“Stop with your show!”), Evenepoel shouted at Uboldi before pushing past him.
But the outburst passed as quickly as it came. As Eurosport reported, Evenepoel immediately reconciled with Uboldi, who responded: “Het spuit me, ik wilde ook dat je had gewonnen” (“I’m sorry, I also wanted you to win”).
Within minutes, the frustration gave way to pride. Speaking to Sporza, Evenepoel said: “Tweede, dat is prachtig. Het was heel lastig om op dit niveau te komen. Met het nodige geduld en het nodige werk achter de schermen is het toch gelukt. Daar ben ik supertevreden mee.” (“Second, that’s beautiful. It was very hard to reach this level. With patience and hard work behind the scenes, I managed to do it. I’m super happy with that.”)
A Winner’s Mentality
The rapid emotional shift — from anger to apology to pride in the span of minutes — reveals the intensity of Evenepoel’s competitive drive. The Sporza article describes him as a “winnaar pur sang” (winner pure and simple), a rider for whom only first place truly counts. This mentality, while occasionally producing raw moments at the finish line, is also the engine behind his remarkable career: Vuelta a Espana winner in 2022, world road race champion in 2022, Olympic road race gold in 2024, and now his best-ever Tour de France finish.
According to the official Tour de France report, Evenepoel’s second place on the stage, combined with his consistent riding throughout the three-week race, secured him second place overall at +6 minutes and 26 seconds behind Pogacar — the best result for a Belgian rider in the Tour in decades.
What It Means for Belgian Cycling
Evenepoel’s podium finish represents a significant resurgence for Belgian cycling on the world stage. Having finished third in his Tour debut in 2024 and suffered a crash-related DNF in 2025, his second place in 2026 marks a clear upward trajectory. Now riding for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, which he joined specifically to challenge Pogacar, Evenepoel has positioned himself as the Slovenian’s primary rival heading into future editions.
With Pogacar now holding five Tour titles at age 27 — equalling the record of cycling legends Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain — the gap to Evenepoel remains significant. But Evenepoel’s consistency on the podium, his climbing ability, and his fierce determination suggest that the gap is closing.
The Road Ahead
Evenepoel’s performance on Alpe d’Huez, and his emotional reaction to it, encapsulated everything that makes him one of cycling’s most compelling figures: a relentless competitor who holds himself to the highest standards, who feels the weight of every missed opportunity, but who can also step back and recognize the magnitude of his achievements.
As the final stage to Paris approaches — shortened from 133 km to 89 km due to wildfires in southwest France — Evenepoel can reflect on a Tour de France campaign that, while falling short of the top step of the podium, has cemented his status as Belgium’s greatest cycling talent of this generation and a genuine contender for years to come.