Contador backs Evenepoel's Red Bull switch - 'He made the right decision'

Speaking at the Velofollies cycling fair to Sporza, the Spanish legend didn't hold back on his opinion about Evenepoel's blockbuster transfer from his long stay at Soudal-QuickStep to Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe. "He has switched to a very good team, which has everything in-house," Contador said, clearly impressed by the roster surrounding the young star.

And what a roster it is. With five-time Grand Tour champion Primož Roglič, Florian Lipowitz, who finished third in last year's Tour, along with another Grand Tour winner in Jai Hindley, plus Daniel Martínez and Aleksandr Vlasov, Evenepoel finds himself in exceptional company. But for Contador, it's not just about big names on paper.

"In the team, there are the right people to help Remco improve in the long climbs," he explained. "He made the right decision."

Still, the seven-time Grand Tour winner isn't ready to crown Evenepoel just yet. There's one burning question that remains unanswered. Can the Belgian handle the relentless demands of the Tour de France?

"We will see what Remco's level is if he improves," Contador stated. "Can he stay at the top every day in a Grand Tour with stages featuring two to three climbs?"

It's the ultimate test for any Grand Tour contender: consistency over brutal mountain stages, day after day. With his new team's support and expertise, Evenepoel has all the tools he needs. Now it's time to prove he can use them in the Tour de France, and better his 2024 podium he achieved at the Tour, behind Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard in that edition, and he will be aiming to strike with vengeance in 2026 after the emotional abandonment on the Tourmalet in the 2025 Tour, which was his last in Soudal colours.