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

[Berniece]

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.

They transformed from sprinters team to GT, and now to winning everything. A UAE/Visma like approach. That's why they got the likes of Pithie, Lazkano, Remco for 1-day races. As well as Roglic, Lipowitz, Remco, Martinez, Hindley, etc for GT's.

 

[LongtimeLurker]

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

It is not him

 

[LongtimeLurker]

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

Because he is

 

[CyclistAbi]

They transformed from sprinters team to GT, and now to winning everything.

That IMHO doesn't account as being a new direction. This was their direction for a couple of years now and the article says they have now reached the set goals.

A UAE/Visma like approach. That's why they got the likes of Pithie, Lazkano, Remco for 1-day races. As well as Roglic, Lipowitz, Remco, Martinez, Hindley, etc for GT's.

Yeah, this second part is IMHO meant as being the new direction, that is to move away from being completely focused on GT GC racing. Hence at best to be more like Visma, on where it seems that more emphasis to be put on one day racing events. Here is likely on where Sven and Remco plus other riders mentioned will be the key players. Lets just hope that stage racing will be further developed too, here likely the main problem is on how to move up from No.3, on how to bridge.

 

[Berniece]

Because he is

Great source... You could explain yourself in more detail?

 

[theyoungest]

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.

63 medals in 8 years of cyclocross, that sounds like a lot but it's really not. That's about 8 per year, when there's about 40 medals available. In every category except the elite men, the Belgian team underperforms almost by default, for the only nation that really cares about this sport.

On the road his results have been more impressive, and I can certainly understand why Evenepoel would want him at Red Bull because every time Vanthourenhout is in the car behind him he wins Still I'm not sure how much Vanthourenhout had to do with that.

 

[Flamin]

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).

What can you expect, in terms of results, from a cx coach though? It's a 100% individualistic discipline. Simply put, you select the 8 best riders, and each of them goes full gas from the start, every man for himself.

 

[Links2003]

It is not him

Why not? It make no sense to introduce a new normal sports director in this way. So what doch you think will his job be?

 

[CyclistAbi]

Why not? It make no sense to introduce a new normal sports director in this way. So what doch you think will his job be?

I feel that this was already explained here:

Page 74 - Teams & Riders - The Red Bull - Bora - Hansgrohe team thread

Page 74 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.

forum.cyclingnews.com

In 2025 season the focus will be on U23 level and in 2026 season Sven will join the team of Sports Directors and will participate as such at the WorldTour races. I assume that the main idea behind it is he will be in the car whenever Remco races if Remco is to join RBH.

 

[Berniece]

I feel that this was already explained here:

Page 74 - Teams & Riders - The Red Bull - Bora - Hansgrohe team thread

Page 74 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.

forum.cyclingnews.com

In 2025 season the focus will be on U23 level and in 2026 season Sven will join the team of Sports Directors and will participate as such at the WorldTour races. I assume that the main idea behind it is he will be in the car whenever Remco races if Remco is to join RBH.

But Lodewyck was also coming from SOQ supposedly.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Berniece

Tomorrow likely some more official statements to be made. First of all lets see if all three parties agree or negotiations are still ongoing. That is likely on what will have the biggest impact on 2026 season, as for the staff, IMHO that is less important for now. Said that another one day races specialist?

 

[CyclistAbi]

With all the influx from Belgium in terms of staff i checked and luckily Slovenians are represented too. That is Sven will first work under Gazvoda in U23, and after at WT level Gazvoda to still be his assistant.

So we are good.

 

[Links2003]

I feel that this was already explained here:

Page 74 - Teams & Riders - The Red Bull - Bora - Hansgrohe team thread

Page 74 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.

forum.cyclingnews.com

In 2025 season the focus will be on U23 level and in 2026 season Sven will join the team of Sports Directors and will participate as such at the WorldTour races. I assume that the main idea behind it is he will be in the car whenever Remco races if Remco is to join RBH.

This explanation alone doesn't make sense. Every other sports director joined the team as soon as an agreement was reached. And they didn’t start out with the U23 squad either.

Besides, he spent a long time looking for the right job for himself. He could’ve gotten an ordinary position as a sports director anywhere. But he wanted to wait for the right job. And then the announcement wasn’t made official for a long time—only once Aldag was gone. So he’s definitely not going to be a normal sports director. Whether he’s taking over Aldag’s position? I don’t know. If that position continues to exist as it was, then he’ll take it. Maybe they’ll change the roles entirely. Either way, he’s now the new strong figure at Red Bull—otherwise none of this would make any sense at all.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Links2003

To me more interesting question is on why Aldag lost his job in the middle of the season. As for who replaces him, if Remco signs for RBH then indeed possibly for Sven to take over the position Aldag held. Seems like some sort of a package deal and hence best to wait for tomorrow, to see if any announcements will be made, Remco joining the team. Otherwise it could get rather interesting.

P.S. As one could observe in F1 this inner team power struggles are a race on its own.

 

[Links2003]

@Links2003

To me more interesting question is on why Aldag lost his job in the middle of the season. As for who replaces him, if Remco signs for RBH then indeed possibly for Sven to take over the position Aldag held. Seems like some sort of a package deal and hence best to wait for tomorrow, to see if any announcements will be made, Remco joining the team. Otherwise it could get rather interesting.

P.S. As one could observe in F1 this inner team power struggles are a race on its own.

Aldag losing his job is your interpretation, isn’t it? Officially, all I know is that they mutually decided it would be better for both sides to go their separate ways. That might not be true—but it’s certainly possible that it is.

In that case, the timing makes sense for both parties. If Aldag is aiming for a similar role, he can’t wait until the end of the year to start looking. And RBH needs a successor as early as possible, since planning for next season is already underway this year. The team is already meeting this year. Maybe the successor will have a say in new signings and help shape the strategy. So if they wanted to part ways, this really is a good time for both sides.

Of course, they didn’t announce it before the Tour—that much is understandable, since the press would’ve focused solely on that. Maybe even the riders didn’t know, and they didn’t want any distractions ahead of the most important race of the year.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Aldag losing his job is your interpretation, isn’t it? Officially, all I know is that they mutually decided it would be better for both sides to go their separate ways. That might not be true—but it’s certainly possible that it is.

In the middle of the season?

In that case, the timing makes sense for both parties. If Aldag is aiming for a similar role, he can’t wait until the end of the year to start looking. And RBH needs a successor as early as possible, since planning for next season is already underway this year. The team is already meeting this year. Maybe the successor will have a say in new signings and help shape the strategy. So if they wanted to part ways, this really is a good time for both sides.

Of course, they didn’t announce it before the Tour—that much is understandable, since the press would’ve focused solely on that. Maybe even the riders didn’t know, and they didn’t want any distractions ahead of the most important race of the year.

Ask yourself on why would Aldag want to find a similar job at a different team.

 

[Berniece]

People are wondering if Evenepoel and Roglic will be able to get through the same door, but that will probably be the least of RBH worries. They are also signing Gianni Vermeersch.

 

[yaco]

Dont be surprised if Aldag end up at Jayco Alula.

 

[Links2003]

In the middle of the season?



Ask yourself on why would Aldag want to find a similar job at a different team.

As I explained, a mid-season change makes a lot of sense for a job like this. Much of the work for next season will now take place in the coming weeks and months. So the new boss has to be in place by then. And then, of course, the old boss leaves.

Rolf Aldag has a good reputation as far as I know. He is also spoken of very positively in previous teams. If he wants such a job again and teams are in need, he will certainly have a good chance.

 

[LongtimeLurker]

Why not? It make no sense to introduce a new normal sports director in this way. So what doch you think will his job be?

Normal DS only

 

[LongtimeLurker]

Great source... You could explain yourself in more detail?

For what reason? I am just, like many here, providing info for you.

 

[Berniece]

For what reason? I am just, like many here, providing info for you.

Because it's hard to know who is credible and who isn't. From some forum members we know they have connections to teams or riders, so when they say something about those teams we know it's credible.

You could just say, just wait and see, and after a while it will be clear that you are right, and know more than the general public. Which is fine too. I was just asking for clarification.

 

[AmRacer]

Because it's hard to know who is credible and who isn't. From some forum members we know they have connections to teams or riders, so when they say something about those teams we know it's credible.

You could just say, just wait and see, and after a while it will be clear that you are right, and know more than the general public. Which is fine too. I was just asking for clarification.

Mou

 

[Valv.Piti]

Gasparotto out as well. Perfect opportunity for tactical mastermind Klaas L.

 

[Remy55]

Can someone explain to me why Lodewyck seems like a poor DS according to most forum members?