Red Bull’s big move: Lipowitz headlines new long-term trio

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe have confirmed that Florian Lipowitz, Giulio Pellizzari, and Lorenzo Finn have signed contract extensions ahead of the 2026 season.

"Talent development is part of this team’s DNA. Florian and Giulio were not even 20 years old when we discovered them, and today they are riders who can make a difference in any Grand Tour. Lorenzo was even younger and has already won two world titles with us," said Ralph Denk, CEO of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in an official statement.

"Together with our established leaders and the huge depth of talent across our three teams, this trio represents our future – our vision and the path we are committed to following,” added Denk.

Speaking at the team's media day in Spain, Denk shared some anecdotes about his early encounters with Lipowitz. “I will never forget the first lunch we had together, and Florian was asking me, ‘I’m a biathlete, what do I have to do to become a pro cyclist?’" said Denk.

"A second big moment for me was when Florian made his debut in our team in 2023 in the Vuelta a San Juan in January, and Bernie Eisel was calling me: ‘Who the fuck is this guy? He pulled the whole day and kept the gap to the break.’ This was a big moment for me; it was confirmation he is a big talent. And last year he was phenomenal, of course.”

Lipowitz enjoyed a stellar 2025 season, which saw the German become the first rider in the team’s history to finish on the Tour de France podium in July. Red Bull confirmed Lipowitz will remain with the team well into the coming years, and once more will head to the Tour de France in 2026, alongside new signing Remco Evenepoel.

Lipowitz made his Grand Tour debut in 2024 at the Giro d’Italia but abandoned the race on stage 6. The German made a significantly more positive impression on the Vuelta a España later that year, as he helped Primož Roglič to a record-equalling fourth victory, as well as finishing 7th overall himself.

2025 saw Lipowitz make a major step up in terms of illustrating his capabilities as a team leader, finishing 2nd at Paris-Nice and 3rd at the Critérium du Dauphiné, a promising sign ahead of his Tour de France debut, where he was set for co-leadership with Primož Roglič. 

In the end, it was Lipowitz who came to the fore, to become the first German to finish on the podium of the Tour since Andreas Klöden in 2006, ending on the third step in Paris behind Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard.

Giulio Pellizzari signed with the team from VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè, and has already made a big impact with the team, finishing 6th at both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, and also taking a stage win at the latter.

The 22-year-old Italian was one of three male riders to finish in the top 10 of at least two Grand Tours in 2025, alongside Jonas Vingegaard and Felix Gall. Pellizzari is set to return to his home Grand Tour next season in a leadership role alongside 2022 champion Jai Hindley. Aleksandr Vlasov is also set to race the Giro next season alongside the duo.

Lorenzo Finn is one of the biggest talents in cycling right now, and it will feel like a huge relief for Red Bull to have extended the 18-year-old’s contract. After winning the junior road race world title in Zürich, Switzerland, in 2024, Finn went one better in 2025 and won the under-23 event in Kigali, Rwanda. 

Currently with the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Rookies, the development squad of the German team, Finn ended his 2025 season racing with the elites at Gran Piemonte.