Radsport Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel changes to the 2026 season to the German Rennstall Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe-with unclear episodes for Florian Lipowitz.
This was announced by the Equipe from the Bavarian Raubling on Tuesday afternoon and thus ended weeks of speculation about an obligation by the Belgian top star. “Remco stands for a claim. He does not want to ride – he wants to shape”, Team boss Ralph Denk said: “Remco not only has extraordinary sporting skills, but also a remarkable mentality. His determination, professionalism and his unconditional will inspire me to success.”
Even Evenepoel’s contract with the Belgian team Soudal Quick-Step was still until the end of 2026, and there will probably be a whopping transfer fee. At Red Bull, the 25-year-old is likely to move up to the top earners on cycling. Red Bull said nothing about the contract content.
At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Evenepoel won gold in the street race and in time trials, shortly afterwards he became a time trial world champion. He is also one of the best classic drivers in the world, was Vuelta winner in 2022 and Tour-Dritter 2024.
Evenepoel and Lipowitz – duo with ambitions
Already on August 1, Sven Vanthourenhout had started his position as sporting director at Red Bull, the former Belgian national coach is a familiar Evenepoels. The new star will surely force the commitment of some of the helpers to him.
Evenepoel is an absolute alpha animal. So how will the Lipowitz tour third deal with the new situation? Are you primarily colleagues or rivals? Both want to compete with podium ambitions at the Tour de France 2026.
On the past France tour, even time trial won the first time trial, but then had a strike out in the Pyrenees. The one year younger Lipowitz had ensured the greatest German tour success since Jan Ullrich, which he had taken over from Evenepoel with third place and winning the white jersey for the best young professional he had taken over from Evenepoel.