Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel has emerged as a serious contender in this year’s Tour de France after a focused training regimen and strategic weight loss markedly improved his climbing performance. The 26-year-old, who had previously been viewed as weaker on long mountain ascents compared to the sport’s leading climbers, demonstrated significant progress on Sunday’s 15th stage, securing his first mountain stage victory at the Tour.

Unlike many contenders who participate in one of June’s traditional preparatory week-long races such as the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes or the Tour of Switzerland, Evenepoel opted out of racing altogether from April until the Tour’s start in late June. Instead, he devoted his time to intensive training in the Alps, with a particular focus on endurance and climbing.

Evenepoel’s development became evident during the 11.3 km climb to Plateau de Solaison, which features an average gradient of nine percent. He managed not only to keep pace with top climbers during the steep ascent but also to finish powerfully. After his stage win, he attributed the improvement to his tailored training and changes in body composition. "It’s not coming from nature or from itself with me to do performances like this," he said, noting the necessity of losing weight to compete on these demanding climbs.

Historically, Evenepoel’s physique—a stockier build suited to time-trialling and one-day classic races—has posed challenges on longer, consecutive mountain passes. His strengths lie in his powerful time-trialling ability, where he holds both world and Olympic titles, and his success in one-day events. Despite his 2024 third-place finish at the Tour and his victory in the 2022 Vuelta a España, his climbing capabilities had been viewed as a limiting factor.

This year’s Tour has seen Evenepoel challenge that perception. On Sunday, when race leader and two-time Tour winner Tadej Pogacar increased the pace on the final climb, Evenepoel was one of only two riders able to respond and remain with the Slovenian, alongside Pogacar’s teammate Isaac Del Toro. Other climbers considered stronger, including Evenepoel’s Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe teammate Florian Lipowitz, French youngster Paul Seixas, and Spaniard Juan Ayuso, were dropped from contention.

Evenepoel acknowledged the Tour is far from over and emphasized the importance of patience and consistency in the remaining stages. His calculated approach and physical transformation suggest he could be a formidable presence as the race progresses.