From The Vault Special: The Greatest Time Trialist of All Time

Between Anquetil’s metronome and Evenepoel’s precision, the clock reveals its truest master

“Jacques Anquetil in his characteristic position during one of the many individual time trials he rode. He won sixty of them. According to his own calculation, he was defeated in twenty-one time trials — finishing second on nineteen of those occasions.”
— Legendarische Wielerkampioenen - Aart Aarsbergen & Peter Nijssen (ISBN: 978 90 417 1165 6)

There is something sacred about the time trial.
A rider alone against the clock — against physics, against himself.
In that lonely contest, careers have been defined, legends born, and myths perpetuated.

© Soudal - Quick Step

Today, as Remco Evenepoel reigns as World, European and Olympic time trial champion, the question inevitably resurfaces:
Is the Belgian the greatest time trialist of all time?

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The Numbers Behind the Myth

VeloStatistics dove into the archives — from Coppi’s steel machines to Anquetil’s elegant posture, from Merckx’s relentless engine to Hinault’s grim efficiency, and finally to Evenepoel’s aerodynamic perfection.