This year, Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz are launching their joint attack on the almost indomitable Tadej Pogacar. How good the Red Bull duo’s chances are also depends on how well they work together. Evenepoel’s ex-team boss sees a possible problem here.
One thing is already clear before the first races of the 2026 cycling season: Florian Lipowitz and Remco Evenepoel will only have a chance in the big races against Tadej Pogacar if they harmonize at Red Bull and work for and with each other. Otherwise, the Slovenian over-driver will probably be invincible again.
However, Patrick Lefevre, the Belgian superstar’s former team boss, is not so sure that the new Red Bull duo will get through the season without internal friction, as he indicated in the “Sporza” interview. In his view, the dual leadership role could disturb Evenepoel sooner or later.
Trouble with Lipowitz? “As I know Evenepoel…”
“He [Evenepoel] probably has a better team now, but with us he was the only leader. Now he says he has no problem with it, but as I know him…” said Lefevre, referring to his time together with the Belgian at Soudal Quick-Step.
Lefevre also doesn’t want to rule out the possibility that Red Bull might prefer Florian Lipowitz: “The other one [Lipowitz] is German. I’m looking forward to seeing that. If they get along, they can achieve something. But I’m not clairvoyant.”
In principle, Evenepoel in particular has the potential to beat Pogacar, the Belgian’s former boss is convinced. “But at the moment Pogacar is still out of his reach,” he said. However, if his former protégé gets through the winter well, “he can achieve whatever he wants. We’ll see.”