Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe will separate Danny van Poppel and Jordi Meeus in the coming season. Both will have their own dedicated sprint train. The fast Belgian—who still won the final stage of the Tour de France in Paris in 2023—will have Arne Marit by his side, and Van Poppel will no longer lead out Meeus. The Dutch champion wants to do lead-outs only for top sprinters now, but the Belgian doesn’t seem to mind this much.
The German team's plan with Van Poppel came to light during the NIBC Tour of Holland. The 32-year-old Dutchman said then that he and the team had developed a solid plan during last summer’s Tour de France. “It looks very promising for the future. Especially wearing my champion’s jersey, I said, ‘I’ll wait for the world-class sprinter I hopefully get someday.’” I won’t do it for less anymore.” Strong words for Meeus, who was the main finisher last year.
Marit, Meeus, and Danny van Poppel at last week’s media day - photo: fotopersburo Cor Vos
“I didn’t really take it personally,” says the Belgian—who was developed by the Dutch SEG Racing Academy—to WielerFlits. “I know I’m not the fastest in the peloton. I also know it’s hard for me to win from the second wheel. I rely more on coming from behind with speed. That’s how I won most of my sprints. I don’t think I’m lying when I say the chances are better when Jasper Philipsen or Olav Kooij come off Danny’s wheel than when I do.”
It is striking that Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe recruited no less than three riders for Van Poppel and Meeus. Jarrad Drizners joined, while Arne Marit will be Meeus’s regular lead-out man, and the Dutch champion will also get Haimar Etxeberria. Meanwhile, with Remco Evenepoel, Florian Lipowitz, Primož Roglič, and many other climbers, the team is strong for the grand tours. “I do think there is room within the team for two sprint trains. Sometimes we actually ride a triple program. There will be plenty of races.”
Jordi Meeus| Race | Date |
|---|---|
 Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta | 18 Feb - 22 Feb |
| Omloop Het Nieuwsblad | 28 Feb |
| Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne | 1 Mar |
| In Flanders Fields | 29 Mar |
| Scheldeprijs | 8 Apr |
 Paris-Roubaix | 12 Apr |
| Tour de France | 4 Jul - 26 Jul |
