Tour de France runner-up Remco Evenepoel has launched ‘Project Canada‘ ahead of the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec and Montréal, targeting a historic sweep of both elite world titles at the upcoming UCI Road World Championships while adapting his training for the explosive demands of North American circuits.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Worlds Pricing: His dual-target strategy in the time trial and road race solidifies his status as a marquee favorite in cycling manager games ahead of the September 20–27 championships.
- Tactical Adjustments: Tadej Pogačar’s absence due to a Vuelta crash shifts heavy race control expectations onto Evenepoel’s shoulders, altering breakaway and domestique deployment.
The Anatomy of ‘Project Canada’
Following a rigorous three-and-a-half-week altitude training camp in Livigno—where he logged miles alongside Mathieu van der Poel—Evenepoel returns to racing for the first time since the Clásica San Sebastián. The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider enters the autumn calendar with a very specific blueprint. Dubbed ‘Project Canada‘ on Strava, his late-season campaign bridges this week’s Canadian classics directly into the World Championships in Montréal.
The stakes are remarkably high. Evenepoel holds a unique window to become the first male rider to capture both the elite time-trial rainbow jersey and the road-race title in a single World Championship year. But before the championships kick off on September 20, he faces the narrow, punchy climbs of Québec—a layout he feels suits his physiological profile better than ever.
“Generally, it’s preparation for the World Championships, but obviously there’s the ambition to win,” Evenepoel noted. “Especially Québec, it has that very specific final climb. I think the climb suits me better now than before. That’s why I’m here with ambitions to win—that’s always the case when I start races.”
Rewriting the Whiteboard Without Pogačar
The tactical landscape of the upcoming World Championships shifted dramatically when Tadej Pogačar was forced to end his season prematurely following a crash at the Vuelta a España. With the Slovenian sidelined, rival squads are forced to discard their defensive blueprints and draft entirely new race-day strategies.
According to Evenepoel, the absence of Pogačar removes the default favorite who usually forces opposing teams into early defensive postures. “When Tadej is there, everyone wants to defend or just follow him, but it’s not easy. I would say that now you have to come with new tactics. Clearly it’s going to change because normally you have to take control of the race,” he explained.
While Belgian national coach Serge Pauwels publicly suggested the absence completely remakes the national team’s playbook, Evenepoel kept his cards closer to his chest. “For me, in my head, it’s not always best to say it like Serge did. It’s better to keep the tactics to yourself a bit, but that’s his choice.”
Physiological Shifts and Internal Dynamics
Preparing for short, punchy circuits requires a distinct training philosophy compared to the high-mountain slogs of a three-week Grand Tour. Having secured second overall at the Tour de France, Evenepoel’s training pivoted away from long, sustained climbing blocks toward sharper, explosive outputs.
“I think it’s clear that you need to have a bit more explosivity for these races coming, so obviously we’ve looked at that. We’ve worked more on the sprint,” Evenepoel said, emphasizing the difference between 20-kilometer Alpine passes and the rolling hills of Quebec and Montreal.
Compounding the tactical intrigue within the Belgian camp is the surging form of Wout van Aert at the Vuelta a España. As Van Aert hits peak condition just in time for the championship window, questions surrounding leadership roles and intra-team hierarchy continue to generate debate. Evenepoel, however, remained diplomatic regarding his compatriot’s trajectory.
“I think he found good form at the right time. Obviously, it’s still a long way to the road race, so he has to maintain it, but he has enough experience to manage the gap between the Vuelta and the World Championships road race,” Evenepoel observed. Whether that formidable depth translates into a unified team effort or dual-leader options will remain under wraps until the flag drops in Montréal.
Tale of the Autumn Campaign
| Event / Milestone | Location | Target / Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Grands Prix Cyclistes | Québec & Montréal | Race rhythm, tactical sharpness, win ambition |
| Altitude Block | Livigno | Base volume and explosivity tuning |
| UCI World Championships | Montréal | Defense of TT title & historic road race double |
The Takeaway
Evenepoel arrives in North America with his physical engine finely tuned and his competitive instincts entirely sharp. By balancing immediate ambitions in the Grands Prix de Québec and Montréal with the historic weight of ‘Project Canada’, the Belgian rider is positioning himself as the defining protagonist of the 2026 autumn calendar. How the tactical chess match unfolds without Pogačar—and how Belgium manages its dual-leader luxury—will dictate whether this ambitious project results in unprecedented history.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
