'The sporting shift has begun' - Red Bull prepare for Remco Evenepoel arrival

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have been making significant structural changes ahead of Remco Evenepoel’s imminent arrival for the 2026 season, with newly appointed sports director Sven Vanthourenhout insisting the squad is already showing positive signs after a mixed year for the team.

"No one in the team will deny that things haven't been what they should have been, especially not in the spring classics," Vanthourenhout told Wielerflits, “That conclusion has also been made within the team. It's up to us to discover where the areas for improvement lie and start working on them from October onwards towards 2026.

“I do notice that everyone is still trying to make the best of it and keep working in the right mindset. Since the Tour, in which Florian Lipowitz finished third, the sporting shift has begun."

Vanthourenhout also points towards the ongoing Vuelta a España as a strong indication of a positive trajectory, continuing from Lipowitz’s Tour de France 3rd place finish, with Jai Hindley and Giulio Pellizzari both in contention for a podium at the Spanish Grand Tour, sitting fourth and sixth respectively at the start of the final week.

"We're riding into the final week with a clear goal of reaching the final podium," Vanthourenhout explained. "Hindley's podium is not far off, and Pellizzari is also doing quite well. But more importantly, I spoke to the team director on duty this morning, and he told me how good the atmosphere is in the group. That's crucial in the third week of a Grand Tour."

The Belgian also rejected suggestions that Evenepoel might be joining a disjointed team, addressing criticism that emerged following the high-profile transfer.

"Everyone in the team is very much looking forward to Remco's arrival, and that's true for Remco himself as well," Vanthourenhout insisted. "Both the riders and the staff are trying to prepare for his arrival. You can tell that everyone wants to draw positive energy from this and do their part."

Looking ahead to 2026, it’s fair to say that the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe squad is well stacked in the climbing department with the likes of Pellizzari, Hindley, Lipowitz, Aleksandr Vlasov, Primož Roglič and now Evenepoel. 

Vanthourenhout acknowledged the challenges that comes with managing the schedules of each with three Grand Tour champions among them, and Lipowitz, a recent Tour podium finisher. However, Vanthourenhout preferred to highlight the opportunities that having such strength in depth can present for the team.

"It's still too early to say anything about that. Ultimately, the WorldTour calendar in 2026 is very extensive. There are three Grand Tours, a huge number of beautiful stage races, Monuments, and Classics," he explained. "We'll have to make the most of that during the winter months, but I keep saying that everyone is ready to welcome Remco with open arms."