Stage 16 of the 2026 Tour de France promises a thrilling showdown as riders tackle a 26.1km individual time trial from Évian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains on Tuesday, July 21. The stage features the Côte de Larringes, a second-category climb that tests both endurance and strategy.

Remco Evenepoel, the Belgian star, emerges as the favorite, aiming for his second consecutive victory in this year's Tour. The time trial includes a challenging ascent followed by a descent toward the scenic shores of Lake Geneva.

Current mountain classification leader Tadej Pogacar faces competition from Valentin Paret-Peintre of Soudal-Quick-Step, who wears the polkadot jersey but is focused on maximizing his performance on the climb rather than his overall time. Paret-Peintre has approximately 4km left in the ascent, showcasing his determination.

Key contenders for the stage include:

• Filippo Ganna and Josh Tarling from Netcompany-Ineos
• Juan Ayuso of Lidl-Trek as an outside bet

The absence of Jonas Vingegaard, due to a controversial withdrawal after a crash, highlights Pogacar's dominance in the race. While Evenepoel may chip away at Pogacar's five-minute lead, the real intrigue lies in the battle for the podium and the young rider’s jersey between Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas. Seixas is noted for his strength against the clock, but fatigue from two weeks of racing could be a deciding factor.