At Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, they are preparing to welcome their brand-new leader Remco Evenepoel this winter, after a difficult year for the German team. On the sporting front, 2025 was not a top year, and it is clear that many changes are underway within the team’s structure. According to Sven Vanthourenhout, the Belgian sports director who joined Ralph Denk’s team in July to provide support, the tide is already turning in anticipation of Evenepoel's arrival.
The best example is the Vuelta a España, where the team is racing prominently. “We are entering the final week with a shot at the overall podium,” says Vanthourenhout about Jai Hindley and Giulio Pellizzari’s provisional fourth and sixth places.
“For Hindley, that podium is within reach, and Pellizzari is not doing badly either. But what’s even more important: I spoke to the sports director on duty this morning, and he told me how good the atmosphere is within the group. That is crucial in the third week of a Grand Tour.”
But that does not change the fact that 2025 was not a good year for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.
“No one on the team will deny that it was not what it should have been, especially during the spring classics. This realization has also been made within the team. It’s up to us to identify the areas that need improvement and to start working on them from October onward towards 2026. I do notice that everyone is still trying to make the best of things and is working with the right mindset. Since the Tour, in which Florian Lipowitz finished third, the turnaround on the sporting side has begun.”
Are you joining a team that is going through a transition?
“Let’s hope that 2025 was a transitional year. And that from 2026 onwards we can lay a new foundation. That the team will head in a new direction. I personally feel that a new vision is spreading throughout the team, being implemented across all departments. There will always be some trial and error, but I have a good feeling that the transition to 2026 will go smoothly. That’s why it’s so important that the team finishes the year strong.”
What makes you so confident?
“I see a lot of positive things. Everyone is working very hard to establish the right structure for 2026. And regarding the sporting side: don’t forget that — besides Remco — there are many talented young riders coming through who will continue to develop in the coming years. We are well armed.”
Pellizzari is doing so well in the Vuelta - photo: Cor Vos
Is this team then ready to fully support Remco Evenepoel?
“The fact that the climbers on the team are doing well will definitely motivate Remco. A lot of things were questioned in the first weeks after his transfer. There are plenty of analysts and media outlets that were critical about Remco’s move. You heard things like: it’s not working within that team, is it really the right environment for Remco? I don’t think that’s fair. You see in the Vuelta, and earlier in the Tour, that the team is indeed capable.”
One analysis that came up was that the team sometimes appears to be a patchwork group, and that Remco will have to win them over. Is that an unfounded observation?
“Actually, yes. I can only say that everyone in the team is really looking forward to Remco’s arrival, and it’s the same for Remco himself. Both the riders and the staff are trying to prepare themselves for his arrival. You notice that everyone wants to draw positive energy from this and contribute, so that in 2026 we can immediately make an impact on important races.”
On the other hand: top climbers like Lipowitz, Pellizzari, Hindley, Aleksandr Vlasov, Primoz Roglic, and Evenepoel in one team in 2026, can be both a blessing and a curse. Will these guys all be willing to ride in Remco’s slipstream?
“It’s too early to say anything about that. Ultimately, the WorldTour calendar in 2026 is very extensive. There are three Grand Tours, a lot of prestigious stage races, monuments, and classics. We will need to manage that well during the winter months, but I keep noticing that everyone is ready to welcome Remco with open arms.”
A lot is also changing within the staff. Sporting manager Rolf Alfdag and Enrico Gasparotto are gone, you joined a month ago, and now Allan Peiper is also being mentioned.
“The positions are taking shape day by day. The team wants to put everyone in the best possible position where they can add value. Without going too deep into it, I think that was somewhat the problem in the past. Now everything is gradually falling into place. By the time of the first training camp, the structure should be finished and everyone should know their role.”
