Evenepoel training on the climbs of Tenerife

First Glance

This week, Remco Evenepoel gave cycling fans a rare glimpse into the numbers behind one of the world's best riders.

While training at altitude in Tenerife, conversations with coach Dan Lorang revealed that Evenepoel's threshold power sits at roughly 425 watts.

As expected, social media immediately exploded.

But the most interesting thing about this number isn't the number itself.

It's what it tells us about the Tour de France.

The Engine Is There

At first glance, 425 watts sounds ridiculous.

It is.

But raw power only tells part of the story.

At around 63kg, Evenepoel's reported threshold translates to roughly 6.7-6.8 watts per kilogram — a figure that places him firmly among cycling's elite climbers and Grand Tour contenders.

For perspective, most amateur cyclists spend years trying to reach 4W/kg. Strong club riders might sit between 4 and 5W/kg.

Remco is operating in an entirely different world.

The conclusion is simple:

Nobody can question whether he has the physical engine to compete with the very best.

The Real Tour Question

The problem is that the Tour de France isn't won on TrainingPeaks.

It's won over three brutal weeks.

A rider can have world-class numbers and still lose the race.

Why?

Because FTP doesn't measure:

  • Recovery between stages

  • Tactical decision making

  • Positioning

  • Team strength

  • Nutrition

  • Durability after six hours of racing

And perhaps most importantly, it doesn't measure how well a rider can respond when Tadej Pogačar decides to attack.

Can Remco Beat Pogačar?

To understand just how impressive Evenepoel's reported numbers are, it's worth comparing them to the rider many consider the benchmark of modern cycling.

Tadej Pogačar is widely regarded as the most complete rider in the peloton. While his estimated threshold power is often quoted around 415 watts, the Slovenian weighs slightly more at roughly 66kg. On paper, that places the two riders remarkably close.

Yet what separates Pogačar isn't necessarily his FTP.

It's his ability to repeatedly produce extraordinary efforts deep into races, often after five or six hours in the saddle. Analysts have estimated that some of his decisive Tour de France climbing performances have exceeded 7W/kg, a level very few riders in history have been able to sustain.

That's what makes Evenepoel's reported 425W threshold so interesting.

The numbers suggest he possesses the physical engine required to compete with cycling's very best. The challenge now isn't proving he has the power. It's proving he can translate those numbers into consistent performances across three demanding weeks of Tour de France racing.

With July approaching, the question is no longer whether Evenepoel belongs among the favourites.

It's whether he can turn world-class physiology into a genuine challenge for the yellow jersey.

What This Means For July

If the reported figures are accurate, Remco enters this year's Tour as a genuine contender.

Not because of one training number.

But because the number supports what we've already seen on the road.

A rider capable of producing close to 7W/kg has the physical ability to fight for podium positions and potentially more.

Whether that's enough to beat Pogačar remains to be seen.

But one thing is clear:

The conversation is no longer about whether Remco belongs in the fight.

It's about whether he can win it.

Chainline Takeaway

The biggest thing revealed this week wasn't a power number.

It was confirmation.

Remco Evenepoel has the engine required to compete for cycling's biggest prize.

Now we find out whether he can turn that engine into a yellow jersey.

— Chainline

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