Bold claim: Remco Evenepoel is stepping into a new era, and the world is watching how this fresh Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe pairing plots a path to dethrone the sport’s current king. In Mallorca, the sight of Evenepoel in simple attire—hoodie and jeans—stood in stark contrast to the sponsor-branded bustle surrounding professional cycling. The moment underscored a clear strategy: arrive at the Tour de France in peak form, unhampered by recent crashes that plagued his last campaigns and cost him potential podiums.
A year ago, Evenepoel endured a brutal training accident in Belgium, suffering fractures to his ribs, right shoulder blade, and hand, with nerve damage that left lasting shoulder effects. His comeback was tempered, with racing only resuming in April and the Tour fatefully limited to 13 stages before retirement from that edition. Yet the plan for 2026 is ambitious and deliberate: create a structured, multi-faceted approach that maximizes his daily improvement rather than chasing a single breakthrough moment.
Team leadership is anchored by young potential as well. Dempster and team principal Ralph Denk laid out a blueprint to beat Pogacar that relies on a two-pronged leadership model, leveraging Evenepoel’s time-trial prowess alongside a strong development path for Lipowitz. This setup mirrors a past masterclass by Jumbo-Visma in 2022, when Vingegaard and Roglič pressed Pogacar into a grueling confrontation from the Col du Telegraphe to the Galibier, then exposed his vulnerability on the Granon climb. Evenepoel acknowledges the tactical takeaway without asserting a one-by-one attack mentality on every climb; instead, the plan emphasizes coordinated pressure and the strategic blending of two distinct rider styles.
Lipowitz and Evenepoel, both 25, are aware that Pogacar remains the benchmark and that overcoming him will require more than raw power. Evenepoel has shifted teams—from QuickStep to Red Bull—and embraced a new coaching framework with Dan Lorang, alongside an intensified training cadence that starts early in the program. The aim is to harmonize heavy workloads with daily communication, ensuring adjustments can be made as the season unfolds. He notes that while Koen Pelgrim shaped a successful period, this new chapter is about expanding his horizons, learning, and evolving as a rider.
The duo will test their evolving partnership at Challenge Mallorca’s team time trial on January 29 and then at the Volta a Catalunya in March, crucial for dialing in synergy before the Tour. Evenepoel concedes that going to the Tour with two leaders is uncharted territory and admits the path will be challenging, but sees value in the collaborative approach if the team can coordinate their efforts and timing to peak together.
The organization stresses balance as a critical factor. Dempster emphasizes the need to cultivate a strong connection between the two leaders while also allowing space for wins across the season. The objective is for both riders to remain on parallel trajectories, stepping onto the podium when the team is ready, rather than forcing a head-to-head battle that could fracture their momentum.
Evenepoel remains grounded about the pressure that accompanies being the marquee signing for 2026. He downplays personal pressure, framing it as a team-focused mission where professional performance and healthy team dynamics take precedence. He singles out Roglič as an idol and a nudge to keep ambitions tempered yet aspirational, laughing off any notion of an unmanageable burden at the moment.
In pursuit of new heights, Evenepoel recognizes Pogacar as a formidable benchmark whose recent form sets a high bar. The move to Red Bull and a coaching shift marks a conscious effort to accelerate development, with early-season training intensification and constant communication aimed at aligning their efforts. Whether the co-leadership model will deliver the coveted yellow jersey remains to be proved over the next seven months, but the Remco Evenepoel era at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe is undeniably underway, with Mallorca serving as the first proving ground for this ambitious chapter.
Author’s note: James Moultrie, a seasoned cycling journalist with a track record across major events and outlets, provides this analysis based on direct reports from Mallorca and forthcoming race demonstrations. His insights reflect the evolving strategy surrounding Evenepoel and Lipowitz as they navigate a season poised to redefine leadership dynamics in the sport.
