Evenepoel Claims Time Trial Victory

Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) demonstrated his time trial prowess, winning stage 2 of the UAE Tour and seizing the overall race lead. The Olympic champion completed the 12km course six seconds faster than Ineos Grenadiers’ Josh Tarling.

Tarling Attributes Loss to Pacing Issues

Josh Tarling acknowledged that his performance was hampered by a miscalculation in pacing during the time trial. He explained that a change in wind conditions compared to his earlier reconnaissance run affected his strategy.

“It was good, it wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for, but I did well,”

Josh Tarling, Ineos Grenadiers

Tarling believes he went too over-under in the initial phase of the race due to the altered wind direction.

Wind Shift Impacts Performance

The Welshman detailed how the wind shifted from a crosswind during his reconnaissance to a more cross-headwind on race day, impacting his pacing. Despite this, he felt he gained time in the corners and was satisfied with his effort, especially considering it was his first time trial of the 2026 season.

Still Within Reach? Tarling Remains Optimistic

Whereas his time was 14 seconds slower than his winning performance in 2025, Tarling remains confident that Evenepoel is beatable. He emphasized the need for perfect execution to overcome the Belgian champion.

“I overdid the first bit, I think anyway, because the first straight was dead headwind, and then when you went left at the first kink, during the recon, it was more cross and now it was more cross-head, so I went a bit too over-under. But I think I gained some time in the corners, and I’m pretty happy I got everything out.”

Josh Tarling, Ineos Grenadiers

He added, No, no, he’s beatable, you’ve just got to place everything together. At the minute, he’s just got more things right, so I just need to get everything right on my side and tidy up.

Looking Ahead: Jebel Mobrah Challenge

The UAE Tour continues with stage 3, a 183km ride featuring a challenging ascent of Jebel Mobrah. This marks the first time the race has included this climb, setting the stage for a potentially decisive battle between Evenepoel and his rivals.

FAQ

• Who won the stage 2 time trial at the UAE Tour? Remco Evenepoel.
• What was the time difference between Evenepoel and Tarling? Six seconds.
• What did Tarling attribute his loss to? Pacing issues caused by a change in wind direction.