Evenepoel’s 64×11 Setup & 53 km/h+ Speed — Is the TT Game Changing?
Blistering speeds, monster chainrings, and modern aero tech are redefining the time trial playbook.
It wasn’t just Remco Evenepoel’s legs doing the damage in Stage 5’s Tour de France time trial. It was the machine beneath him — and the numbers were staggering.
A 64×11 chainring setup. Speeds consistently north of 53 km/h average. The fastest Tour ITT since the Miguelón era.
And the rest of the peloton took note.
The 64×11 Chainring Era Is Here
Evenepoel, already known for his wattage and low-drag silhouette, turned heads in the start zone with a 64-tooth chainring paired to an 11-tooth cog — a monster gear setup that was once unthinkable outside a track velodrome.
Why it matters:
Modern time trials aren’t about grinding it out at 50 km/h anymore. With smoother tarmac, refined aero positions, and lighter, stiffer TT rigs, riders are routinely hitting 53–55 km/h averages over 30+ km courses. Traditional 55–58 chainrings can’t cover that speed range efficiently at optimal cadence.
“You need to be in your aero bars at 110 rpm at 55 km/h without bouncing. That demands a 62, 63, or 64 front chainring now,” one team DS told us off-camera.
Evenepoel’s decision — and Visma’s Edoardo Affini on a similar setup — proved decisive. While others spun out, these aero missiles powered clear.
Stage 5 ITT by the Numbers
| Rider | Chainring | Avg Speed (km/h) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remco Evenepoel | 64×11 | 53.1 | 🥇 1st |
| Tadej Pogačar | 62×11 | 52.7 | 2nd |
| Edoardo Affini | 64×11 | 52.5 | 3rd |
Is Modern TT Tech Redefining the Discipline?
Are today’s time trials still about the rider — or has equipment and setup become the decisive factor?
Purists argue legs win races. Reality? In modern TT racing, a suboptimal bike fit or outdated gear choice can bleed 20–30 seconds over 30 km.
Hydration systems integrated into head tubes, 64-tooth chainrings, 3D-printed cockpit extensions, skin suits tested in Formula 1 wind tunnels — it’s no longer an arms race, it’s an engineering war.
And Stage 5 made it crystal clear: those riding the old spec got left behind.
Quick Loot At Remco’s Bike
What It Means for the Tour Ahead
Expect more teams to upsize chainrings and refine setups ahead of the crucial Stage 14 mountain TT. Margins are microscopic this year, and no one wants to see 20–30 seconds disappear because of undergeared equipment.
Watch for:
- 65+ chainrings becoming standard
- More one-piece cockpit integrations
- Frame-specific fairings and aero-optimized bottle cages
Evenepoel’s ride wasn’t just a win — it was a wake-up call.
Time trialling in 2025 isn’t what it was five years ago. It’s faster, more extreme, and as much about hardware as it is about human power.
The new TT era isn’t coming. It’s already here.
📊 Quick Tech Stats
- Fastest average speed in a Tour ITT since 1992
- 3 riders ran 64-tooth chainrings
- 13 teams trialing new aero cockpit prototypes this Tour
- Evenepoel’s CDA reported at 0.168 m²
