The German cycling star Florian Lipowitz draws an early line under its outstanding season.
The 25-year-old, who took third place at Tour de France in July and won the white jersey, announced his decision on Tuesday. Lipowitz will therefore do without a start at the Lombardy tour next Saturday, the last big classic of the year. There he would have met Tadej Pogacar on tour champion.
Lipowitz described the decision for an early end of the season as “liberating. I can now do the things for which there is no time during the season. And I notice how good it is to get your head completely,” said Lipowitz.
The decision has been made shortly after the single -day race in Canada in mid -September. “Everything is beaten up during the season – whether it is race or training. There is little room to come down to come down. Now I have time to get on the bike or simply not to ride. This relaxation is just as important as the physical switching off,” said Lipowitz.
The top driver of the German team Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe experienced his breakthrough in 2025. In 52 racing days, in addition to his strong Tour de France, he shone with second place at Paris-Nizza and third place at the Critérium du Dauphiné.
“It was only a few weeks ago that I really realized what actually happened this year. The successes give me the confidence that all of this is no coincidence, but that the hard training and the many weeks away from home,” said Lipowitz: “At the same time, the sudden attention was new to me. It is a learning process to deal with it and still stay with you.”
In 2026 Lipowitz faces new challenges. The Belgian double Olympic champion and time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel then joins the Red Bull team.