Report: Remco Evenepoel 'closer than ever' to Red Bull move
According to Daniel Benson, a move from Soudal-QuickStep to Red-Bora-Hansgrohe is now more likely than not, with the deal '70-80% complete.'
Not for the first time, the Remco Evenepoel sweepstakes are the story of the summer, with persistent murmurs of the Belgian’s possible departure from Soudal-QuickStep forming the backing track to the 2025 Tour de France.
The saga is a long-running one. After winning the 2022 Vuelta a España, Evenepoel was reportedly the subject of a sustained bid from Ineos Grenadiers to prise him away from QuickStep.
Last year, the revamped Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe emerged as Evenepoel’s most likely suitor, and rumours of an imminent transfer were only quelled when the rider himself dismissed the idea at the Zurich World Championships.
Daniel Benson has reported on Thursday, however, that Evenepoel’s transfer to Red Bull is a more concrete possibility – or perhaps even probability – than it ever was before. According to Benson’s sources, who have knowledge of the negotiations, the deal is “closer than ever“ to being completed.
“Several individuals familiar with the ongoing negotiations have informed us that the deal is close, with one estimating it at 70 per cent complete and another at 80 per cent,“ Benson reports.
Evenepoel is under contract with Soudal-QuickStep until the end of 2026, but Red Bull are reportedly interested in buying out the remaining year of that deal to start building their Tour de France ambitions around him from next season.
Speaking to dnlbenson.substack.com at the weekend, Red Bull manager Ralph Denk denied that a deal had already been struck with Evenepoel. “At the moment, no, but you know cycling changes fast, but at the moment, no,” Denk said. “He’s a very strong rider and a great character and has big potential still.”
According to Benson’s sources, talks gathered pace in April and May of this year, but negotiations have been put on hold for the duration of the Tour de France. The potential deal is reported to be four years in length. Ineos and Lidl-Trek, who were previously monitoring the situation, are believed to be no longer in the hunt for Evenepoel’s signature.
As ever, the Evenepoel saga comes with a caveat. In 2024, Evenepoel was also understood to be on the verge of signing for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe only to opt against signing a deal.
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe’s GC ambitions are currently led by Primoz Roglic, who is also under contract for 2026.
Evenepoel is currently in action at the Tour de France, and he lies second overall after claiming victory on the stage 5 time trial in Caen.
