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

[Cycling111]

The difference is that those who are winning the Tour with poor preparation finished second; Roglic hasn't even been able to fight for the podium.

Furthermore, I think it's time to stop making excuses and dismissing Roglic's supposed moral victories in the Tour. He wouldn't have won the Tour in 2021 against a better Pogacar, who beat him in 2020 without a team and as a Tour novice, so he's even less likely to win it in 2026. And above all, in 2025 he hasn't shown the level to finish third, and in 2026 the podium contenders will surely take a step forward. That's the reality.

I'm a realist. Roglic isn't going to win a Tour de France. Lipowitz probably won't either, but he's someone who's improving, and at this point, they're not going to defer to a 36-year rider, while Lipowitz has taken a step forward and finished third.

But everyone is free to have their own opinion. For me, it's self-deception to think that Roglic can aspire to anything significant in the overall Tour de France classification in 2026. Anyone who wants to believe he can win the Tour or that his level in 2025 would have been far superior to Lipowitz's with different preparation is free to do so. I try to be realistic.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

The difference is that those who are winning the Tour with poor preparation finished second; Roglic hasn't even been able to fight for the podium.

Furthermore, I think it's time to stop making excuses and dismissing Roglic's supposed moral victories in the Tour. He wouldn't have won the Tour in 2021 against a better Pogacar, who beat him in 2020 without a team and as a Tour novice, so he's even less likely to win it in 2026. And above all, in 2025 he hasn't shown the level to finish third, and in 2026 the podium contenders will surely take a step forward. That's the reality.

I'm a realist. Roglic isn't going to win a Tour de France. Lipowitz probably won't either, but he's someone who's improving, and at this point, they're not going to defer to a 36-year rider, while Lipowitz has taken a step forward and finished third.

But everyone is free to have their own opinion. For me, it's self-deception to think that Roglic can aspire to anything significant in the overall Tour de France classification in 2026. Anyone who wants to believe he can win the Tour or that his level in 2025 would have been far superior to Lipowitz's with different preparation is free to do so. I try to be realistic.

Roglic has already been outclassed by Lipowitz in this Tour. We have to accept that his best days are behind him. I don't think Bora will use Lipowitz as a domestique, and he'll go to the Tour with a higher hierarchy.

Regarding Remco. A signing like Remco's is to go as the leader to the Tour, not the Giro. Furthermore, if it's true that he's earning the same as Pogacar (8 million) it's to go to the most important race for the sponsors.

There’s a lot of ground between “Roglic is a favorite for the Tour” and “Lipowitz outclassed Lipowitz in this Tour” (and the implication that he proved he is a better GC rider). Lipowitz didn’t prove anything relative to Roglic at all this year. Also, Roglic cannot compete with Pogacar barring some sort of disaster befalling Pogacar.

 

[aphronesis]

There’s a lot of ground between “Roglic is a favorite for the Tour” and “Lipowitz outclassed Lipowitz in this Tour” (and the implication that he proved he is a better GC rider). Lipowitz didn’t prove anything relative to Roglic at all this year. Also, Roglic cannot compete with Pogacar barring some sort of disaster befalling Pogacar.

This is the basic point, or barring surprise.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Also, Roglic cannot compete with Pogacar barring some sort of disaster befalling Pogacar.

Who can?

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Who can?

Probably no one next year, right? Tough time to be a GC rider. I give it a very small chance Vingegaard figures some things out and takes a step up.

 

[RedheadDane]

“Lipowitz outclassed Lipowitz in this Tour”

Very impressive!

 

[Red Rick]

To me the one thing that doesn't really make that much sense is the idea that you can't take 3 GC riders to a TdF when you don't have to control the race. It will always be Visma or UAE that control the tempo, and thus it's not that likely you're forced to choose which of the 3 you have to ride for at any given time.

 

[Berniece]

To me the one thing that doesn't really make that much sense is the idea that you can't take 3 GC riders to a TdF when you don't have to control the race. It will always be Visma or UAE that control the tempo, and thus it's not that likely you're forced to choose which of the 3 you have to ride for at any given time.

Indeed, the only problem I see is that no one would try to take a big tactical risk with high reward. That they rather ride for podium than trying from afar to see if they could force something instead of just doing whatever uae and Pogacar want

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I've seen pelizzari drop the best GC riders in both the giro and the vuelta in the last year, and he will only get stronger

I've never seen lipovitz drop anyone important except remco (bad climber)

Pelizzari is the heir to bora throne.

Hopefully Roglic can get the 5th vuelta but it's unrealistic for me.

 

[Berniece]

I've seen pelizzari drop the best GC riders in both the giro and the vuelta in the last year, and he will only get stronger

I've never seen lipovitz drop anyone important except remco (bad climber)

Pelizzari is the heir to bora throne.

Hopefully Roglic can get the 5th vuelta but it's unrealistic for me.

Pelizzari probably has co-leadership in the Giro. Great time to proof he can finish on the podium if he’s the heir

 

[vappaxbipmv]

I've seen pelizzari drop the best GC riders in both the giro and the vuelta in the last year, and he will only get stronger

I've never seen lipovitz drop anyone important except remco (bad climber)

Pelizzari is the heir to bora throne.

Hopefully Roglic can get the 5th vuelta but it's unrealistic for me.

I haven't. If both cases he wasn't immediately followed because of his position and time lost in GC

That's like saying that Arensman dropped Pogacar and Vingegaard on La Plagne. Technically true but not what we consider dropping someone