Florian Lipowitz Crashes Out on Tour Stage 16 as Remco Evenepoel Wins Time Trial

Q: With his co-leader out, is Remco Evenepoel's fight for a Tour de France podium now an impossible mission?

No. Lipowitz’s crash makes Evenepoel’s Tour harder, but a podium is still very realistic. The key fact is that Evenepoel is already second overall after winning the Stage 16 time trial, and he cut 28 seconds from Tadej Pogačar’s lead. That does not put yellow within easy reach, but it leaves him firmly in control of a podium place rather than chasing one from distance. What changes is the margin for error. Lipowitz was fifth overall and one of the race’s best climbers, so Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe lose both a major mountain helper and an important tactical card. In the Alps, that matters: Evenepoel will now have less protection if rivals attack repeatedly, and the team is, as its directors said, “a man down.” Evenepoel’s own form, though, argues against calling it impossible. He has won back-to-back stages, remains the strongest time triallist among the GC contenders, and has shown he can limit losses well enough to stay high overall. With Jonas Vingegaard also out, the field behind Pogačar has thinned, which actually improves Evenepoel’s chances of staying on the podium. The bigger question is not whether he can make the podium, but whether he can hold second. Without Lipowitz, the mountain stages become more dangerous, especially against riders targeting third or trying to pressure him deep into climbs. But from second place, with strong form and fewer top rivals left, Evenepoel’s podium fight is difficult, not impossible.

3 articles · Updated · CyclingWeekly · Jul 21

Stage 16 ended with Florian Lipowitz leaving the Tour de France on a stretcher after sliding out on a corner and hitting the barrier in the individual time trial.
Remco Evenepoel won the 30km test from Évian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains, but said the result felt "bittersweet" after learning his Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teammate had crashed out.
Red Bull staff said Lipowitz's condition was still unclear and that the team deliberately did not tell Evenepoel over race radio to avoid distracting him during his ride.
The loss leaves Red Bull a rider down and removes one of its two leaders ahead of the mountains, with Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar both saying Lipowitz had looked strong for the third week.
Lipowitz became the second general-classification contender to exit in two stages after Jonas Vingegaard crashed out on Sunday.