Al Hudayriyat Island (United Arab Emirates) - monday 17 february 2026 - The three-time world time trial champion Remco Evenepoel lived up to expectations, claiming victory in the Breitling ITT Stage on Al Hudayriyat Island and, in addition to the stage win, taking over the Red Jersey as leader of the general classification. Securing his seventh win of the season, Evenepoel covered the 12.2 km course in 13’03”, at an average speed of over 56 km/h—enough to leave Joshua Tarling (6”) and Rémi Cavagna (12”) behind him. Former Red Jersey holder Isaac Del Toro finished 42” down, the same time as Ben O’Connor, and behind other GC contenders such as Antonio Tiberi (34”) and Derek Gee (35”). Further back were Michael Storer (47”), Felix Gall (57”), Lennert Van Eetvelt (1’03”), and Adam Yates (1’04”). Tomorrow, the general classification is set for another major shake-up with the unprecedented uphill finish at Jebel Mobrah: 14.9 km at an average gradient of 8.6%, with sustained ramps above 12% over the final 6 km.

PRESS CONFERENCE
Speaking in the press conference, the stage winner and Red Jersey Remco Evenepoel said: "Today I couldn’t go any faster. Short and very explosive, it wasn’t my favourite time trial. It suited Joshua [Tarling] a bit better, but I got the fastest intermediate time check and I went a bit faster than the others in the second part of the race. It’s my fastest individual time trial so far, it’s due to a combination of factors: I was able to push the power, the temperature was perfect, the road’s surface was perfect too, there weren’t many corners, I’m happy with all the conditions today. The wind was pretty strong, it came earlier than predicted, so maybe it influenced the result less than we thought yesterday, but our choice enabled me to start my recovery sooner. In the end I’m happy with the decision we took as I made my plan to be ready for an early start. I’m very curious about tomorrow’s stage. I’ve been training on longer effort and I’m 30’’ ahead of most of my opponents. I’ll do my best to win the UAE Tour". Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner and new Red Jersey Remco Evenepoel said: "My fastest ever individual time trial! The course was pretty flat and not very technical so it was perfect for being quick. I'm very happy to have done it today. I was kinda chasing my first individual stage victory at the UAE Tour because we won the team time trial in 2023 and I was twice second on uphill finishes so it's a very cool feeling today. Isaac Del Toro did everything he could. We knew it was better to start early but he won yesterday and I won today so we both have a stage win in our pocket. From now, the GC battle will be open. With the very hard climb there's to come, it's more comfortable to defend the lead than have to attack. It's the perfect situation for us. Now we have to defend the lead till Sunday".
The White Jersey Joshua Tarling said: "I think the wind was a little bit stronger and a little bit in a different direction compared to last year. In the first straight, it was more crosswind last year and headwind today. For me, obviously I would have preferred to win it but I got everything out. For sure we have to try and beat Remco [Evenepoel] in the future. I just need to sharpen a few things up. We’ll get there! I don’t think we’re far off, there are just a few things that need to be done. For the rest of the UAE Tour, I’ll try to do some good lead out for Sam [Welsford] and tomorrow with the climb we’ll look after Embret [Svestad-Bårdseng] and Peter [Øxenberg] and see how it goes".

STATISTICS
It’s the first stage win at the UAE Tour for Remco Evenepoel, which won the 2023 edition without winning any stage.
At 56,092 kph this was the second-fastest TT in the history of the UAE Tour. The record was set last year by Joshua Tarling at 56,621 kph.
Joshua Tarling is at his second stage podium at the UAE Tour.
This year he finished 2nd in the TT behind World Champion Evenepoel, last year he won this same stage from Stefan Bissegger and then 3-times Tour winner Tadej Pogacar.
Remco Evenepoel conquered his 6th leader’s jersey at the UAE Tour. Only two riders count more: Tadej Pogacar (15) and Primoz Roglic (7).

TOMORROW'S STAGE
STAGE 3, UMM AL QUWAIN-JEBEL MOBRAH, 183 KM - RAS AL KHAIMAH TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY STAGE
The route - The first of the two mountain stages of the UAE Tour. The stage is divided into two distinct parts. The first one approaches the final mountain by undulating through the desert, while the last one features approximately 20 km of continuous climbing all the way to the finish. Starting in Umm Al Quwain, the race reaches Ras Al Khaimah and returns to the desert. The race heads straight for Jebel Mobrah. The final climb is approximately 15 km long: the first part averages 7% up to the first summit, followed by 6 km at an average gradient of 12%.
Final kilometres - Final climb with very steep gradients (maximum 17%). Gradients constantly above 10–12% up to the finish.

STAGE 2 RESULTS
1° Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe) 13’03”
km 12.200 in 13’03" average speed 56.092 km/h
2° Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) a 5″
3° Rémi Cavagna (Groupama Fdj United) a 11″
4° Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) a 24″
5° Daan Hoole (Decathlon Cma Cgm Team) a 25″
6° Luke Plapp (Team Jayco Alula)
7° Artem Shmidt (Ineos Grenadiers) a 28″
8° Florian Vermeersch (Uae Team Emirates Xrg) a 29″
9° Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon Cma Cgm Team) a 30″
10° Rune Herregodts (Uae Team Emirates Xrg) a 32″

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1° Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe)
2° Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) a 6″
3° Rémi Cavagna (Groupama Fdj United) a 12″
4° Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) a 25″
5° Daan Hoole (Decathlon Cma Cgm Team) a 26″
6° Luke Plapp (Team Jayco Alula)
7° Florian Vermeersch (Uae Team Emirates Xrg) a 30″
8° Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious)
9° Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon Cma Cgm Team) a 31″
10° Isaac Del Toro (Uae Team Emirates Xrg) a 32″ 

THE OFFICIAL JERSEYS
Red Jersey, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by AD Ports Group - Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull - Bora - Hansgrohe)
Green Jersey, leader of the Points Classification, sponsored by Mubadala - Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull - Bora - Hansgrohe)
White Jersey, Best Young Rider, sponsored by Burjeel Holdings - Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers)