Bernard Hinault doubts Remco Evenepoel can beat Tadej Pogacar at the 2027 Tour de France, despite a route offering the most individual time-trial kilometres since 2012. The five-time Tour champion remains unconvinced that the Belgian can match his rival in the mountains after finishing runner-up in 2026.

The newly unveiled course includes 71km against the clock and three summit finishes. Two individual time trials, over 38km between Blois and Chambord and 33km around Toulouse, give Evenepoel more distance in his strongest discipline as he pursues a first Tour title.

“This Tour is still too hard for him,” Hinault told Het Nieuwsblad. “This year, he made great progress. He was lighter and climbed much better. But he struggles with sharp accelerations on the climbs. Evenepoel is a tempo climber.”

Evenepoel finished the 2026 Tour 6:26 behind Pogacar, winning both the individual time trial and a mountain stage against the Slovenian and his UAE Team Emirates – XRG teammate Isaac del Toro. Second overall improved on his third place on debut in 2024, following an abandonment in the Pyrenees in 2025.

Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogacar after the 2026 Tour de France

Two time trials to suit Evenepoel

The reigning Olympic time-trial champion ended 2026 unbeaten in the discipline, having secured a record fourth consecutive world title. He has also won an individual time-trial stage in each of his three Tour appearances. “I think he can win stages next year, certainly the two time trials,” Hinault said.

The first comes on stage seven, on a flat course through the Loire châteaux, before the race reaches its first summit finish at the Grand Colombier. The second follows the final rest day on stage 16, with the Cote de Pech David interrupting the roads alongside the Garonne around Toulouse.

Evenepoel’s victories against Pogacar in the Tour’s flatter individual time trials have so far produced relatively modest gains: 12 seconds in 2024, 16 seconds in 2025 and 28 seconds in 2026. Next summer’s longer combined distance offers more scope to build an advantage, although neither test comes after the final mountain stages.

Pogacar’s unfinished business

Pogacar will enter 2027 seeking a sixth Tour title after his attempt to win the 2026 Vuelta a Espana ended with a heavy crash on stage eight. He had started as the overwhelming favourite, with both Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard absent.

“There is simply one rider who is better than the rest. And Pogacar will want to make amends for the Vuelta,” Hinault said. “But then again, I could be wrong. Above all, Evenepoel himself has to believe he can do it.”

The 2027 route concludes its mountain racing with consecutive Pyrenean stages. Stage 18 pairs the Tourmalet with the Col du Portet, before the route from Hasparren to Laruns takes in Burdinkurutxeta, the Col de Soudet and the Col de Marie-Blanque the following day. That final mountain stage falls three days after the Toulouse time trial and just 48 hours before the finish in Paris.