Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe lose sports director after just three months
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have parted ways with sports director Tony Gallopin only three months after announcing his appointment, bringing a sudden end to what was meant to be a long term collaboration. The decision comes at a moment of major transition for the team, which is reshaping its sporting structure ahead of the 2026 season.
Gallopin, 37, joined Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe on 1 October 2025, following two seasons in a similar role at Lotto. His arrival was presented as part of a broader reorganisation, with the German squad preparing for a new era marked by increased ambition and the high profile signing of Remco Evenepoel. Instead, his tenure has ended almost as soon as it began.
The former French rider confirmed that his departure takes immediate effect and stressed that the decision was entirely personal. “It is a personal decision and absolutely not linked to any problems with Red Bull,” Gallopin told L’Équipe. After nearly two decades spent at the highest level of the sport, first as a professional rider and later from the team car, he felt the need to step away.
Gallopin enjoyed a distinguished racing career before moving into management. He won a stage of the Tour de France in 2014 and wore the yellow jersey, moments that defined him as one of the most recognisable French riders of his generation.
According to Gallopin, the cumulative demands of elite cycling ultimately prompted his decision. “I needed to take a bit of distance from top level sport,” he explained, referring to the intensity that comes with constant travel, pressure and long seasons. That need for perspective outweighed the professional opportunity he had only recently embraced.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe were understanding when Gallopin shared his thoughts, and both sides agreed to end the collaboration on good terms. There has been no indication of internal conflict or disagreement over sporting direction, a point Gallopin was keen to underline. The team has not yet announced how it will fill the vacancy or whether responsibilities will be redistributed internally in the short term.
For Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, the timing is far from ideal. The squad is in the middle of an ambitious rebuild, seeking to establish itself as a consistent Grand Tour contender while integrating new leadership and star riders.
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