Teams & Riders The Red Bull - Bora - Hansgrohe team thread

[CyclistAbi]

So what is next, poaching Javier Sola?

 

[red_flanders]

That’s not what he said to Sporza. He’s going to replace Aldag. Which makes sense on why it took so long for him to find a new job, since he didn’t want to just be a sports director

Sven Vanthourenhout bevestigt: "Ik word sportief manager bij Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe" | sporza

Sven Vanthourenhout zal vanaf 1 augustus de sportieve leiding in handen nemen bij Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Op die stoel zat tot nu toe nog de Duitser Rolf Aldag, maar nu diens contract is opgezegd, wil Vanthourenhout zelf ook toegeven dat hij naar de ploeg van onder meer Florian Lipowitz, Primoz...

sporza.be

Thanks for posting this. The below is from the (tranlated) article. Maybe a native Flemish-speaker can correct the translation if any nuance is inaccurate?

"I will indeed be joining Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe straight away," the former national coach told our editors.

Vanthourenhout will be in charge of all aspects of the team. "I'll be involved in all departments, from the development team to the WorldTour team."

Kind of odd that the quote from Vanthourenhout does not actually support the assertion in the phrase before it. Being "involved" is quite different from being "in charge of all aspects".

But that's where a more accurate translation may help.

 

[theyoungest]

Thanks for posting this. The below is from the (tranlated) article. Maybe a native Flemish-speaker can correct the translation if any nuance is inaccurate?


Kind of odd that the quote from Vanthourenhout does not actually support the assertion in the phrase before it. Being "involved" is quite different from being "in charge of all aspects".

But that's where a more accurate translation may help.

The translation is accurate. "Ik zal me bezighouden met" means "I'll be involved with" and "krijgt de leiding over" means "will be in charge of". Whether the writer of the article has interpreted his words incorrectly, that's another question.

 

[Escarabajo]

Wasn't Aldag the coach who elevated the performance of that German rider (I don't remember his name) who was touted to be the next Ullrich?

 

[red_flanders]

The translation is accurate. "Ik zal me bezighouden met" means "I'll be involved with" and "krijgt de leiding over" means "will be in charge of". Whether the writer of the article has interpreted his words incorrectly, that's another question.

Thanks! Appreciate the answer.

Since that's the case, I'll maintain that there's a weird disconnect between the assertion (in charge of everything) and the quote (involved in everything). And that's kinda really the crux of the questions, what he's actually in charge of.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@red_flanders

Of Remco?

 

[kingjr]

Yes, crashing a lot makes you a worse GT rider, as does being prone to sickness. Don't tell me you think crashing is mostly about luck.

That's not a response to what I wrote

 

[peterfin]

@red_flanders

Of Remco?

From a tactical point of view it could indeed be as simple as ensuring that first of all Remco's integration goes smooth and second that Remco brings the success they are aiming for.

 

[staubsauger]

Wasn't Aldag the coach who elevated the performance of that German rider (I don't remember his name) who was touted to be the next Ullrich?

Silvio Herklotz!?

 

[Flamin]

What I noticed, at least in cyclocross, is that Belgian riders in the championships pretty much always perform below what you might expect from the biggest cyclocross nation by far. That's his responsiblity, isn't it? Of course on the road it's different, but I think there the role of the national coach is much smaller than in cross. I mean, nobody thinks Mathieu van der Poel became world champion thanks to Koos Moerenhout...

What I do like about the Belgian approach is that 10-15 years ago they had no climbers to speak of, and no time trialists. There's been a concerted effort to select for climbing potential and TT potential in the youth categories, and clearly it's paid off. If Vanthourenhout is the man behind that project, hats off to him.

That's a silly statement. In NL, there is 1 outspoken leader, head and shoulders above anyone else. In Belgium, you actually need good people skills to create a team, which is exactly what Vanthourenhout has received unanimous credit for.

 

[CyclistAbi]

From a tactical point of view it could indeed be as simple as ensuring that first of all Remco's integration goes smooth and second that Remco brings the success they are aiming for.

And if done like that what does that come down to?

 

[theyoungest]

That's a silly statement. In NL, there is 1 outspoken leader, head and shoulders above anyone else. In Belgium, you actually need good people skills to create a team, which is exactly what Vanthourenhout has received unanimous credit for.

Okay, but what's his expertise in getting these riders to the level they need to be at? Moerenhout has great people skills as well, but that wasn't my point.

 

[peterfin]

And if done like that what does that come down to?

We will find out.

 

[CyclistAbi]

If the move happens it will be interesting to see if Remco will take on a role similar to Pogi at UAE or more of an Wout at Visma. To me it seems that RBH has decided to be more like Visma, a multiple goals team. So building up a GT GC AAA team likely remains one of the goals just not the only (main) goal any more. We'll see.

 

[CyclistAbi]

In the remaining weeks of the current season, Sven Vanthourenhout will focus on races at the U23 level - an intentional first step to gain insight into the team’s structure and culture. Starting next season, he will take on a the role as Sports Director at WorldTour races.

Sven Vanthourenhout joins Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe as Sports Director

Sven Vanthourenhout is joining the team of Sports Directors at Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe with immediate effect. The 44-year-old most recently served as national coach for Belgium.

www.redbullborahansgrohe.com

 

[CyclistAbi]

Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe and Rolf Aldag realign their sporting direction

Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe and Rolf Aldag have mutually agreed to end their collaboration at the end of this month following a successful Tour de France.

www.redbullborahansgrohe.com

Since 2022, Rolf Aldag has played a significant role in shaping the team’s sporting development. Through his tireless commitment, experience, and passion, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe as a Grand Tour powerhouse. The team’s standout achievements during this period include overall victory at the Giro d’Italia 2022, a triumph at the Vuelta a España 2024, as well as a podium finish and the White Jersey win at the Tour de France 2025.

We look back on these years with great respect and gratitude and sincerely wish Rolf all the best in whatever lies ahead. For the next chapter of our story, we have jointly decided to bring in fresh impetus and take a new direction.”

I do find this rather interesting, that is reading the article as a whole it could mean the new direction might come down to moving away from GT racing being the main objective for the team. We'll see.

 

[Berniece]

Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe and Rolf Aldag realign their sporting direction

Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe and Rolf Aldag have mutually agreed to end their collaboration at the end of this month following a successful Tour de France.

www.redbullborahansgrohe.com

I do find this rather interesting, that is reading the article as a whole it could mean the new direction might come down to moving away from GT racing being the main objective for the team. We'll see.

I don’t read it like that at all

 

[Flamin]

Okay, but what's his expertise in getting these riders to the level they need to be at? Moerenhout has great people skills as well, but that wasn't my point.

He'll become a manager, not a trainer. His job is to build a structure, manage riders and staff (including big personalities), keep everyone happy, get results etc. And he has been very successful at it at Belgian Cycling. No, he hasn't done it at a high level WT team, but a first time for everything. On paper, he fits well.

 

[LongtimeLurker]

Sven does not take Rolf's position. If this is what Sven is saying he needs to retract it, if this is what media thinks, they need to be corrected.

 

[LongtimeLurker]

He'll become a manager, not a trainer. His job is to build a structure, manage riders and staff (including big personalities), keep everyone happy, get results etc. And he has been very successful at it at Belgian Cycling. No, he hasn't done it at a high level WT team, but a first time for everything. On paper, he fits well.

He is a Ass sporting Director only

 

[Berniece]

Sven does not take Rolf's position. If this is what Sven is saying he needs to retract it, if this is what media thinks, they need to be corrected.

Why do you think he's a sporting director only?

 

[theyoungest]

Sven does not take Rolf's position. If this is what Sven is saying he needs to retract it, if this is what media thinks, they need to be corrected.

Okay, so who will be taking Aldag's position? Since it's Vanthourenhout who starts there on August 1st, apparently totally coincidentally the day after Aldag leaves

He'll become a manager, not a trainer. His job is to build a structure, manage riders and staff (including big personalities), keep everyone happy, get results etc. And he has been very successful at it at Belgian Cycling. No, he hasn't done it at a high level WT team, but a first time for everything. On paper, he fits well.

He has and he hasn't. Like I said, his results as a cyclocross national coach are nothing special. Indeed below expectations, if you include all categories (which he is supposedly going to be managing at Red Bull as well).

 

[peterfin]

Okay, so who will be taking Aldag's position? Since it's Vanthourenhout who starts there on August 1st, apparently totally coincidentally the day after Aldag leaves


He has and he hasn't. Like I said, his results as a cyclocross national coach are nothing special. Indeed below expectations, if you include all categories (which he is supposedly going to be managing at Red Bull as well).

In the 8 years as CX coach he collected 63 medals and in the 4 years as coach for the men on the road 36 medals. That is 99 medals in total. So why are his CX results below expectations? He worked in an era when CX has become more international compared to the years before. Prior it was basically a Belgian sport with a few Dutch and Czech guys.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Collecting Belgian medals in CX is like shooting fish in a barrel...........Belgium is the only country where CX is the No1 off-road discipline.

Just like the Finns in rallying, the Belgians will always find jobs in cycling, no matter their qualifications.....

 

[CyclistAbi]

I don’t read it like that at all

How do you read it then, to further strengthen RBH GT GC ambitions, that to be the new direction? I don't feel that would account for being called a new direction considering the emphasis put on it in the past couple of years. Does Sven have experience in GT GC racing, considering he will likely be a DS making the shots, at least in terms of Remco and stage racing, or is he more experienced in one day events and basically he will mostly do that as DS?

It kind of makes sense, for GT GC racing they have Rogla and a couple of youngsters now, Remco hence likely to fill the classics and Co. side of things.

At Tour likely best to be selected and that is that, not to further strengthen this team in terms of aiming for the win. Current leaders to get support and the expectation to be at minimum a podium position. Considering the riders involved a podium position is reasonable expectation and in this regard RBH is already No.3, behind UAE and Visma. Here i feel that the emphasis might now be on other goals, then to try to match UAE, Visma might be eligible. Considering the GT GC talent involved maybe in the future for a sprinter to not get selected. We'll see.