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

[Links2003]

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

Is this confirmed? The main DS who was the leader at the Tour and leader at the Giro which they won? There was a rumour but I can not find any information to this.

 

[search]

Is this confirmed? The main DS who was the leader at the Tour and leader at the Giro which they won? There was a rumour but I can not find any information to this.

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe & Enrico Gasparotto mutually end collaboration

After almost four successful years, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and Enrico Gasparotto mutually agreed to terminate their collaboration.

www.redbullborahansgrohe.com

 

[LongtimeLurker]

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.

I understand this and noted.

This was posted as reference I see

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

 

[Berniece]

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

@Logic-is-your-friend have fun, you don't have to hold back your punches

 

[Gargamel35]

I feel for Roglič. He wanted out of Visma so he could ride Tour as Nr. 1. He picks a good team on paper with stable structure. He gets there and in a year team is sold to Red Bull, he gets a real threat in Lipowitz and now new ownership is firing people everywhere making room for "new guys" and brining in new star (Remco).

At least he made good money out of it.

 

[yaco]

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.

Longtime lurker knows their stuff. be grateful they are sharing information.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

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.

Not sure if this was sarcastic or not, but Vanthourenhout was still riding CX when they did that. That change in policy had already started when De Plus and Lambrecht were 1st year juniors. Vanthourenhout quit riding in 2016, De Plus is now 29, Lambrecht would have been 28 by now. After his CX career he became national coach for CX before moving on to RR. So he was nowhere near being involved with that.

Vanthourenhout is a smart guy (i mean that as intelligent). He screwed up majorly in 2021 but has recovered from that brainfart and has managed to regain the trust of both Evenepoel and Van Aert. He also screwed up epicly by not adding Nys to his selection of U23 i think it was, for which the reason was also the biggest load of crock, but he also learned quickly from that mistake. I think he could be a good DS, but at a WT team level, different things come into play compared to a national team, and GT racing is something else than 1 day racing. But he is smart, and he isn't too stubborn to acknowledge mistakes, learn from them and move on. So he has potential.

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

Because he is a major yes-man to Evenepoel and because his tactical processing unit is very limited. He has gained his status by being in the team car for Evenepoel during wins. Had you put a bag of potatoes in the team car in those races, it would not have made a difference and Evenepoel would still have won those races (have you ever known Evenepoel to win on strategy and not pure power?). However, when you look at the tactical blunders Evenepoel has made, you will also find Lodewyck behind the wheel. The first example that comes to mind is how Evenepoel lost Paris Nice 2024, because he let Skjelmose, Jorgenson and McNulty go while he was looking at Roglic at the end of a stage when there was no climbing left (so no risk of getting dropped after going TT mode). Roglic at that moment was 40s behind Evenepoel in GC, while McNulty was 3s ahead in GC and Jorgenson was only 22s behind in GC.

 

[peterfin]

Not sure if this was sarcastic or not, but Vanthourenhout was still riding CX when they did that. That change in policy had already started when De Plus and Lambrecht were 1st year juniors. Vanthourenhout quit riding in 2016, De Plus is now 29, Lambrecht would have been 28 by now. After his CX career he became national coach for CX before moving on to RR. So he was nowhere near being involved with that.

Vanthourenhout is a smart guy (i mean that as intelligent). He screwed up majorly in 2021 but has recovered from that brainfart and has managed to regain the trust of both Evenepoel and Van Aert. He also screwed up epicly by not adding Nys to his selection of U23 i think it was, for which the reason was also the biggest load of crock, but he also learned quickly from that mistake. I think he could be a good DS, but at a WT team level, different things come into play compared to a national team, and GT racing is something else than 1 day racing. But he is smart, and he isn't too stubborn to acknowledge mistakes, learn from them and move on. So he has potential.


Because he is a major yes-man to Evenepoel and because his tactical processing unit is very limited. He has gained his status by being in the team car for Evenepoel during wins. Had you put a bag of potatoes in the team car in those races, it would not have made a difference and Evenepoel would still have won those races (have you ever known Evenepoel to win on strategy and not pure power?). However, when you look at the tactical blunders Evenepoel has made, you will also find Lodewyck behind the wheel. The first example that comes to mind is how Evenepoel lost Paris Nice 2024, because he let Skjelmose, Jorgenson and McNulty go while he was looking at Roglic at the end of a stage when there was no climbing left (so no risk of getting dropped after going TT mode). Roglic at that moment was 40s behind Evenepoel in GC, while McNulty was 3s ahead in GC and Jorgenson was only 22s behind in GC.

The bag of potatos would have performed better because without commands from the car Remco would ride on instincts and catch Skjelmose and co.

My impression is that Remco's instinctual, typical longer range, attacks have diminshed since he follows the tactical plans more closely both in oneday races and stage races. On the contrary, when racing as part of team Belgium he is much more the old self as he is riding without comms and is more focussed on his own assessment of the situation.

Stage races are different than oneday races but in general I do think his DS had a negative impact on his results. Remco's strengths are not sufficiently used in tactical battles. They should let him put pressure on his opponents on terrain that suits him and let him make a move when he feels he has the legs.

 

[CyclistAbi]

It's interesting restructuring nonetheless. Highest positioned GT GC orientated staff out of the team and more of an one day race specialists in. I can see the loyalty factor involved, to Remco, but how does Remco expect this will increase his chances to win the Tour is beyond me. Unless i guess the idea is to turn this team into something completely else and move away from GT GC racing. Then again there is still a plethora of other staff and riders in this team on where i guess the focus will remain on stage racing.

No news today of Remco signing for the 2026 season, likely hence the deal was not made yet.

 

[TrekCyclist]

really sceptical whether all this will work out well.
Lipowitz' manager might better reach out to Ineos to have a plan B in case things at RedBullBora start to explode one way ot the other.

 

[peterfin]

While RBH changes its management, QS is signing up expensive cobble specialists, so moving back to the old days. I have no doubt that the important part of the Remco deal is done.

 

[fenns]

So Lipowitz will be their Tour de France guy - with Remco for WCs and one-day races? Rogla for Giro and Vuelta?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

So Lipowitz will be their Tour de France guy - with Remco for WCs and one-day races? Rogla for Giro and Vuelta?

I don‘t know why Lipowitz should race the Tour except for the other two picking their races first and Lipowitz having to race the Tour. Also Remco won‘t give up on GC yet I think.

 

[theyoungest]

Not sure if this was sarcastic or not, but Vanthourenhout was still riding CX when they did that. That change in policy had already started when De Plus and Lambrecht were 1st year juniors. Vanthourenhout quit riding in 2016, De Plus is now 29, Lambrecht would have been 28 by now. After his CX career he became national coach for CX before moving on to RR. So he was nowhere near being involved with that.

Vanthourenhout is a smart guy (i mean that as intelligent). He screwed up majorly in 2021 but has recovered from that brainfart and has managed to regain the trust of both Evenepoel and Van Aert. He also screwed up epicly by not adding Nys to his selection of U23 i think it was, for which the reason was also the biggest load of crock, but he also learned quickly from that mistake. I think he could be a good DS, but at a WT team level, different things come into play compared to a national team, and GT racing is something else than 1 day racing. But he is smart, and he isn't too stubborn to acknowledge mistakes, learn from them and move on. So he has potential.

I wasn't being sarcastic, I knew Vanthourenhout was a buddy of Nys senior and then (perhaps for that reason) moved on to become the national coach in cyclocross. Of course I forgot that he's only been the national coach on the road for not very long.

I'm sure he's smart, as in well spoken, but so is Wout van Aert for instance, who is not very smart in a racing context. So it all remains to be seen. At least he has the trust of the soon to be main man of the team, Remco E.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

Somehow not really sure if adding Remco really makes that much sense for Red Bull Bora... but ok, they think it does, so here he is.

Of course, having Remco is good, but on the other hand they had quite a good team, that didn't fully deliver in 25 to be fair, without him, add Remco and the chances for others diminish. Again, in some cases, first Roglic, now Remco...

The team hasn't delivered much in 25, Lipowitz and some Roglic, the rest for different reason less, but still.. the potential for a great 26 was there without Remco too.

North: nothing changes, Lazkano, Pithie and co just have to start delivering. Placements at best though. But better than 25 should be possible.
Hilly classics: With Van Gils they have a guy that without his sickness before Strade Bianche could have had a great classics season. Like in 24. Meaning being second to Pogacar on a number of occasions..Sickness, then a crash... I'd say in the Ardennes after Pogacar and Remco there is nobody that he can't beat. With Remco there, he's number 2. Ok, Strade Bianche should be number 1, Strade Bianche is one of the races that management should simply forbid Remco to ever ride (Sanremo the same, don't want to see Remco in the downhill from the Poggio)
GTs: Roglic seems over, but there's Hindley and to a lesser degree Vlasov (horrible 25 after a brilliant 24) that should want to be leader in a GT. Add the newcomers Lipowitz and Pellizzari.. and Roglic, who will normally want to start as at least co-leader somewhere... suddenly it gets very complicated. And then there's Martinez who does well every 3-4 years, so ok, he's fine, expect him to do well at the Giro 27 again at the earliest. But the chances for a Tour win only improve marginally, Remco normally isn't winning the Tour either. Remco IMO will ride the Tour, no Giro, no Vuelta in 26, Red Bull didn't get him to have him start the Giro Favorite for 3rd place, Lipowitz would only be co-favorite.. Giro and Vuelta? Hindley Giro still doesn't seem impossible, depending a bit on who starts. Roglic Vuelta, a bit more unlikely, but who knows. Lipowitz either would seem possible too, but he probably goes to the Tour with or without Remco. Pellizzari for a top 5 in the Giro, possible too. But now with Remco, just seems harder for guys like Hindley and Pellizzari to get leadership in racesm very likely one of the 2 will be required to ride the Tour in support of Remco&Lipo. And in the end no guarantee that the GT or week races results will be better. Remco only guarantees attention, TT wins, and he's the only guy that normally has a chance to beat Pogacar in Liège... Somehow for the team IMO right now Remco wasn't really the perfect fit, seems in the end the results they get could be basically the same as without him.

 

[Remy55]

Sven Vanthourenhout will not take the role of „Sportchef“ aka the Aldag role at Red Bull. He will be a „normal“ DS.
Somebody else is in talks for that role.

 

[AlpRaid]

I feel for Roglič. He wanted out of Visma so he could ride Tour as Nr. 1. He picks a good team on paper with stable structure. He gets there and in a year team is sold to Red Bull, he gets a real threat in Lipowitz and now new ownership is firing people everywhere making room for "new guys" and brining in new star (Remco).

At least he made good money out of it.

...he's 36...

 

[AlpRaid]

Somehow not really sure if adding Remco really makes that much sense for Red Bull Bora... but ok, they think it does, so here he is.

I share your concern. I feel like Lipo, Rog, and remco are similar riders, so other than adding numbers... remco and lipo in particular seem similar in terms of no ability to change pace when climbing.

if remco eventually returns to his 2022 fall form (and does not crash heavily for a few years), then they could benefit obviously from the ITTs, but also some stellar solo wins on some big races.

but as I noted elsewhere bora has not really shown to know how to prep their riders for GTs any better than what he was doing...

 

[Peyroteo94]

This team is getting stronger and stronger. They seem to be the next big thing in cycling but they need Pogacar to slow down a bit.

 

[svit]

Remco signed with Bora.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Dan Bigham not sacked yet, must think Remco needs to improve his TT skills!

 

[Links2003]

Sven Vanthourenhout will not take the role of „Sportchef“ aka the Aldag role at Red Bull. He will be a „normal“ DS.
Somebody else is in talks for that role.

This statement has already been made by other users as well. However, without any evidence – at least I haven’t seen any proof or meaningful reasoning. It may well be that Aldag's role will no longer exist in the same form. Perhaps the responsibilities will be distributed differently. But it makes no sense for him to be a “normal” sports director. A DS is simply hired and can start at any time. He doesn’t have to go to the rookies first. And he could’ve taken a regular DS position much earlier – he was waiting for the right job to come along. If someone else were to take on the role, they wouldn’t bring in such a strong personality beforehand. The “new Aldag” would want to choose the role himself.

 

[Samamba]

Sven Vanthourenhout will not take the role of „Sportchef“ aka the Aldag role at Red Bull. He will be a „normal“ DS.
Somebody else is in talks for that role.

Zak Dempster.

Vanthourenhout is just the personal DS for Remco.

 

[CyclistAbi]

All three sides agreed and that is good enough for me.

 

[theyoungest]

Sven Vanthourenhout will not take the role of „Sportchef“ aka the Aldag role at Red Bull. He will be a „normal“ DS.
Somebody else is in talks for that role.

Maybe someone should tell Vanthourenhout because that's very much not what he has been communicating about his new role at Red Bull.