New Delhi, July 23 -- fractured collarbone, surgery required, Tour de France over.

What followed in the hours and days after his withdrawal was arguably the most striking display of individual brilliance the 2026 edition has produced. Remco Evenepoel, the Belgian rider who had waited years for a Tour at which he could truly contend, won Stage 15 from the same climb that ended Vingegaard's race, then came back the following morning to dominate the 26.1-kilometre time trial from Evian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-Bains by more than a minute. Back-to-back stage victories in 24 hours. Neither had felt inevitable before this week.

The timing mattered. Visma-Lease a Bike, the Dutch squad that built its cycling identity around Vingegaard's yellow j...