There was never much doubt about who would win in Les Herbiers on Sunday. The only real question was by how much, and Remco Evenepoel answered it in emphatic fashion, closing out his 2026 season with a first elite victory at the Chrono des Nations.
The Belgian world champion covered the 45.43 km course around the Vendée town in 49:53, averaging roughly 54.6 km/h to finish more than two minutes clear of the rest of the field.
Australia’s Jay Vine took second at 2:11, with three-time winner Stefan Küng completing the podium around 2:27 back. Küng had set the early pace, but Evenepoel was already eating into his advantage from the first time check at 10.5 km and had stretched it to 1:47 by the final intermediate split. In the closing kilometres he swept past Vine, who had started two minutes ahead of him on the road.
It was a result that had been coming. Evenepoel finished fifth on his Chrono des Nations debut in 2021 and was runner-up to Josh Tarling in 2023, having already won the junior edition back in 2018. This time there was no late scare.
“This was the last chance to grab a win this year, on a beautiful course, so I came with a lot of motivation,” Evenepoel said at the finish. “I am happy that I can finally win here.”
The win was his 14th of the season and arrived weeks after he claimed a fourth consecutive world time trial title in Montreal. According to race data, a margin of victory this large in Les Herbiers had not been seen since David Millar beat Edvald Boasson Hagen by 2:19 back in 2010.
Source: L’Équipe.
Photo: L'Équipe - Cyclisme (FR)
