Evenepoel sends warning to rivals after stunning Chrono des Nations win: ‘A big step forward’

The 26-year-old was in a class of his own in Les Herbiers, with Jay Vine finishing 2:11 behind and Stefan Küng a further 16 seconds back. It was also the first competitive outing for Evenepoel's new Specialized time trial bike, which passed its first test with flying colours.

"Everything felt really good on the bike," Evenepoel said after the finish. "The handling, the speed, and feeling at one with the bike. I think we've made another big step forward. That's very promising for next year."

Evenepoel has been the rider to beat against the clock for several seasons, but his comments suggest he expects even more from his equipment in 2027.

Sunday's race gave him a first chance to test the new setup under race conditions, with the Belgian determined to make the most of his final appearance of the year.

"This was a great opportunity to take one last victory this season," he said. "It's a beautiful course and I was really motivated to push hard one more time. I'm happy I could finally win here."

Evenepoel had unfinished business in Les Herbiers. He finished fifth in 2021 and second in 2023, having previously won the junior race in 2018. This time, he finally added the elite title to his record.

His pace was such that he caught Vine on the road, despite the Australian having started two minutes earlier. Evenepoel insisted that catching his rivals had never been part of the plan.

"I knew I was going really fast because I could see it in my power and my speed," he explained. "But I wasn't focused on catching anyone. I just wanted to ride as fast as possible, and I managed to do that."

The win was Evenepoel's fourteenth of his first season with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. With his racing calendar now complete, attention turns to preparations for 2027, and the Belgian already likes what he has seen from his new equipment.

For his time trial rivals, the prospect of an even faster Evenepoel is unlikely to be particularly welcome.