Peiper joins Red Bull's Evenepoel rebuild as Eisel departs for Lidl-Trek

Experienced sports directors Allan Peiper and Bernie Eisel have secured new high-profile positions with WorldTour teams Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Lidl-Trek, respectively.

Peiper, who directed Tadej Pogačar to his first Tour de France victory, returns to the WorldTour after stepping down from his role at UAE Team Emirates at the end of 2021 to focus on his battle with cancer. Peiper joins the German team as the Strategic Advisor to the Sports Department.

The Australian will work alongside newly appointed Chief of Sports Zak Dempster as part of Red Bull's extensive staff overhaul ahead of Remco Evenepoel's arrival in 2026.

"I'm very excited to be part of this project," said Peiper in a statement released by the team. "Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe has made impressive progress in recent years, and I see great potential to strengthen this structure even further. It's about living a clear sporting vision and turning it into daily performance - that's what drives me."

Peiper's management career began with Davitamon-Lotto in 2005 following his retirement as a rider in 1992, with subsequent spells at T-Mobile, Garmin, BMC and UAE Team Emirates. His appointment adds to a growing list of backroom additions at the German outfit, which includes Tony Gallopin, Oliver Cookson, and Evenepoel's trusted associates Sven Vanthourenhout and Klaas Lodewyck.

Dempster highlighted the value Peiper brings to the team: "Allan brings a unique combination of experience, strategic thinking and humanity. Throughout his career, he has proven his ability to shape teams and inspire riders. His external perspective will be a tremendous asset to our sports department."

Meanwhile, Eisel heads in the other direction, departing Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe after four years as a Sports Director. The Austrian will join Lidl-Trek for 2026. 

As rider, Eisel enjoyed a nearly two-decade professional career, becoming one of the peloton's most respected road captains and claiming notable victories, including Gent-Wevelgem.

Eisel's move to Lidl-Trek represents something of a reunion. "The biggest reason was to join Lidl-Trek was to work again with Luca [Guercilena, General Manager]. He was my first professional coach when I joined Mapei in 2001, so we go back a long, long time," Eisel said in a statement released by Lidl-Trek.

The former sprinter and lead-out specialist was drawn to the German team's progress and talent development. "I was attracted to Lidl-Trek because of what the Team has achieved in the past few years and the progress it continues to make," said Eisel. 

"It's attracting a lot of young talent and has excellent sprint groups. From my time as a commentator, watching Milan sprinting or watching Mads Pedersen 'doing a Mads Pedersen' are some of the best things you can watch in modern cycling."