Remco Evenepoel abandoned the 2025 Tour de France during stage 14 on the Col du Tourmalet.
Third overall and in the white jersey, he struggled in the Pyrenees, losing time on stages 12 and 13. Feeling “empty” and battling poor form, possibly due to a disrupted preparation and a December 2024 crash, he climbed off during the 182.6-km mountain stage.
“That was a terrible day,” he said post-stage. “I felt completely empty, no power at all.”
On Stage 14’s mountain route, he faltered early, and after a brief exchange with his sports director, he climbed off, giving his water bottle to a fan.
“I’ve been feeling off for three days,” Evenepoel explained. “Today, I woke up knowing I was empty, and on the climb, my legs just said no.”
He hinted at deeper issues, stating, “My preparation wasn’t ideal. I couldn’t train properly after the Dauphiné, maybe allergies or fatigue—I don’t know yet.”
A December 2024 training crash may have compounded problems, with his team noting he lacked “stable form.”
“I gave everything, but you need 110% for the Tour,” he added. “This hurts, but I’ve been through worse. I’ll come back stronger.”
Florian Lipowitz took the white jersey as the best young rider and sits third in the GC now.
