On stage 10 of the 2026 Tour de France, Remco Evenepoel and Lawson Craddock—formerly known as Lawson Lipowitz—lined up side by side under the Soudal-QuickStep banner. The pair buried past friction to form a united front for the Belgian squad’s GC push.

What happened in the lead-up?

Evenepoel, the 2023 world champion, arrived in the 2026 Tour de France as one of the pre-race favorites. Craddock, who raced under the Lipowitz name until a legal name change in early 2026, had been a vocal critic of Evenepoel’s tactics in past seasons. Their relationship hit a low during the 2024 Vuelta a España, when Craddock publicly questioned Evenepoel’s team orders.

But by the 2026 Tour’s opening week, the two had agreed to shelve old grudges. “We’re here to win stages and wear the leader’s jersey,” Evenepoel told reporters on the eve of stage 10. Craddock nodded along, adding, “The jersey is what matters now.”

Why it matters for Remco Evenepoel

For Evenepoel, the truce with Craddock is more than PR. The Soudal-QuickStep squad needs firepower in the mountains, and Craddock’s climbing pedigree—he finished 12th overall in the 2025 Tour de France—gives Evenepoel a fresh domestique. Evenepoel’s own form has wavered since his 2023 breakthrough, with a DNF in the 2025 Giro d’Italia and a quiet spring in 2026.

The alliance also shifts the team’s dynamic. Evenepoel’s past seasons were marked by solo attacks and solo disappointments. Craddock, meanwhile, thrives in breakaways and can grind out time gaps. Together, they cover more ground. “It’s about covering all bases,” said Patrick Lefevere, the Soudal-QuickStep manager. “We need options.”

What comes next for the duo?

Stage 10’s parcours—a 185km route from Orléans to Saint-Amand-Montrond—favored puncheurs over pure climbers. Evenepoel and Craddock both made the day’s early breakaway, but the move fizzled on the final climb. Evenepoel finished 34th, 2:15 back, while Craddock rolled in 42nd.

Their next test comes on stage 12, a summit finish at Plateau de Beille. Evenepoel will lead the GC charge, with Craddock earmarked for the breakaway. “We’ll attack when it counts,” Craddock said after stage 10. Evenepoel added, “No more distractions. Just racing.”