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

[Earns1985]

We don't know much about Lipowitz schedule, but since Roglic is riding Tirreno, it's fair to assume Lipowitz does Paris-Nice. On top of that he'll also share leadership with Evenepoel at Catalunya.

Yeah, but it´s not a given, that Lipowitz will ride something in between.
This year for example he also only rode Mallorca, Paris-Nice and Itzulia before the Dauphine. For the same amount of race days he is for this year now scheduled: Mallorca, Catalunya and Romandie.
Personally I would like to see him race a lot more, but I really fear, that he will only race that...

 

[Berniece]

Yeah, but it´s not a given, that Lipowitz will ride something in between.
This year for example he also only rode Mallorca, Paris-Nice and Itzulia before the Dauphine. For the same amount of race days he is for this year now scheduled: Mallorca, Catalunya and Romandie.
Personally I would like to see him race a lot more, but I really fear, that he will only race that...

Then who are they sending to Paris-Nice that has an actual shot at winning it...?

 

[Earns1985]

Then who are they sending to Paris-Nice that has an actual shot at winning it...?

For Pellizzari and Hindley only giro is announced until now. They will surely also ride a few one-week races before. Also for the UAE tour none of Roglic, Evenepoel and Lipowitz is scheduled for now..

 

[pablohidalgo7]

Red Bull ziet Danny van Poppel puur als sprinter: “Geen Tour, maar Giro voor eigen kansen”

Ontdek hoe Danny van Poppel bij Red Bull zijn nieuwe rol als sprinter omarmt en zijn kansen op de Giro benut. Lees meer en volg zijn avontuur!

www.wielerflits.nl

It was pretty clear that Van Poppel would be a sprinter in 2026 after his strong 2025, but some things in this article surprise me. We were recently wondering if Marit would be an option for sprints or a lead-out man for Meeus, and it seems it will be the latter (maybe even for Van Poppel). However, what surprises me most is that Haimar Etxeberria also seems destined to have the lead-out man role as his primary function. I think it's a waste that someone with his "puncheur" potential ends up as a lead-out man on a team that already has Drizners, Marit, the Van Dijkes, or even Pithie and Thornley (although they should also have freedom).

Honestly, I would give sprinters of the level of Van Poppel or Meeus, Drizners and at most the Van Dijke brothers for the entire season. Cyclists like Haimar, Marit, Pithie or Thornley seem too good and versatile for that; they should only act as lead-out men in certain contexts.

 

[Berniece]

However, what surprises me most is that Haimar Etxeberria also seems destined to have the lead-out man role as his primary function. I think it's a waste that someone with his "puncheur" potential ends up as a lead-out man on a team that already has Drizners, Marit, the Van Dijkes, or even Pithie and Thornley (although they should also have freedom).

Etxeberria probably has his free role if Van Poppel would drop and he's still in the peloton?

 

[pablohidalgo7]

Etxeberria probably has his free role if Van Poppel would drop and he's still in the peloton?

Hope so! Although for me he should do other type of schedule, more 🇮🇹 and 🇪🇸 .1 and . Pro races with some 🇧🇪 hilly races not suitable for sprinters.

 

[MLKarlos]

Seems Like Hammond left the team as Sport Director.

Back in October he was still mentioned in their official post:

https://www.redbullborahansgrohe.com/de/news/zak-dempster-ist-neuer-chief-of-sports-bei-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe

Now he appears to have signed with Rockets

 

[Wyndbrook]

Seems Like Hammond left the team as Sport Director.

Back in October he was still mentioned in their official post:

https://www.redbullborahansgrohe.com/de/news/zak-dempster-ist-neuer-chief-of-sports-bei-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe

Now he appears to have signed with Rockets

Fall guy for underwhelming classics campaign perhaps. Generally Hammond is a get up the front and race type of director, riders must have been been on strike.
Never mind, I'm sure the ex national team manager will soon have them racing against each other.

 

[Berniece]

Never mind, I'm sure the ex national team manager will soon have them racing against each other.

Why? If anything, he has shown he was able to have everyone ride for each other after 2021 debacle

 

[CyclistAbi]

“I remember a phase in the final stage of the Dauphine in June,” he explained. “After a lot of climbing we came into a valley with an elite group. I looked around and there were three or four guys from Red Bull in our group. And I thought: ‘Man, I’m sitting here completely alone. And they’re riding around here with four guys.’”
For Evenepoel, the image was confronting, but also clarifying. It highlighted the value of depth and support at the highest level, and planted a seed that would later influence his decision-making.

“That motivated me so much, already knowing what would happen a few months later,” he said. “That evening after the stage I could think of only one thing: ‘Gosh, just imagine if I were surrounded like that. If we could start the final climb with five.’”

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/primoz-roglic-motivates-me-to-look-for-the-best-version-of-myself-remco-evenepoel-embraces-leadership-pressure-at-red-bull

That much for having five team members undertaking the ultimate climb vs not having them and on how supposedly that doesn't matter at all.

 

[Berniece]

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/primoz-roglic-motivates-me-to-look-for-the-best-version-of-myself-remco-evenepoel-embraces-leadership-pressure-at-red-bull

That much for having five team members undertaking the ultimate climb vs not having them and on how supposedly that doesn't matter at all.

This again? When are you going to let it go? You are wrong, literally no one agrees with you, move on.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Berniece

Remco seems to agree.

 

[red_flanders]

@Berniece

Remco seems to agree.

That you think a statement to the effect of "Hey they have 4 guys left and I'm all alone" is the same as "bring a team of all leaders and climbers" pretty much says all that needs to be said about your ability to parse bike racing.

Of course he would want to be surrounded by 3 teammates in the high mountains.

Of course they also need guys for the days that aren't big cols.

Not complicated.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@red_flanders

It seems the you only read, or at least only acknowledged, the first paragraph. This is the second paragraph from the quote:

“That motivated me so much, already knowing what would happen a few months later,” he said. “That evening after the stage I could think of only one thing: ‘Gosh, just imagine if I were surrounded like that. If we could start the final climb with five.’”

IMHO this doesn't leave much room for interpretation wouldn't you agree?

 

[red_flanders]

@red_flanders

It seems the you only read, or at least only acknowledged, the first paragraph. This is the second paragraph from the quote:



IMHO this doesn't leave much room for interpretation wouldn't you agree?

No, I don't agree, nor does anyone who understands bike racing. I don't see how this is confusing for you.

You need guys for the long periods of races which happen on flat or rolling terrain. Guys without ambitions. How many guys are on a team? Subtract 5 from that. What does that leave? Sure AF not 3 more climbers. And for sure Remco doesn't think that the 5 guys he wants at the bottom of a climb are all co-leaders or guys with ambitions. FFS.

And having guys at the START of a long climb means just that. The start. So guys burn off during the climb. Like in every GT you've ever seen. It also doesn't mean that the 5 are necessarily climbers, just guys who have big motors who can get to the bottom of the last climb. Guys who can climb, yes. But there are also guys who are super strong on the flats and the climbs, who can help everywhere. With no ambitions.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@red_flanders

Note that you aren't arguing with me this time, you are arguing with Remco. Give him benefit of a doubt, to me it makes perfect sense on what he is saying. We'll see.

 

[YavorD]

@red_flanders

It seems the you only read, or at least only acknowledged, the first paragraph. This is the second paragraph from the quote:



IMHO this doesn't leave much room for interpretation wouldn't you agree?

Then what?
I still remember maybe twice he aas having more team mates than Vingegaard in the Tour 2024. He was indeed dropping Vingegaard on every MTF..

It doesn't matter how many rider you're surrounded by, all that matters is how strong YOU are, especially on the final climb.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@YavorD

If RBH ever gets to there, having a myriad of strong climbers on the ultimate climbs, once the bunch is already substantially reduced, or as Remco said in that elite group.

Well, best to wait and see, on what comment Pogi and Jonas will have in regards to that. As they are the reference ATM, so best to leave it to them, to tell it like it is. Hopefully Rogla to still be around to take a jab.

 

[red_flanders]

@red_flanders

Note that you aren't arguing with me this time, you are arguing with Remco. Give him benefit of a doubt, to me it makes perfect sense on what he is saying. We'll see.

I agree with Remco.

I don't agree with what you've been claiming over and over in this and other threads about how RBH should formulate their team. For you to conflate what Remco is saying with what you've been saying makes zero sense. They aren't close. Remco wants a bunch of guys left at the start of the final climb. Of course. You've been suggesting they bring a team of all climbers. For all the reasons said a million times, this is a terrible idea and no team will ever do it.

Even if Remco gets his dream and has 4 guys to support him on the final climb, that leaves 3 guys for the flats and rolling. And there is no scenario where 5 guys with ambitions to win makes any sense. 1 of those 5 could be a strong roleur who can climb. 3 strong climbers, and 2, even 3 guys threatening to win a stage or the race? Could make sense. 8 top climbing guys? Does not.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Then what?
I still remember maybe twice he aas having more team mates than Vingegaard in the Tour 2024. He was indeed dropping Vingegaard on every MTF..

It doesn't matter how many rider you're surrounded by, all that matters is how strong YOU are, especially on the final climb.

And Vingegaard was dropping everyone not named Pogacar no matter how many of them there were in the lead group when Pogacar attacked.