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

[Cycling111]

4/5 victories in Mallorca. And another 1-3 today.

 

[pablohidalgo7]

Magagnotti is the real deal in terms of sprinting, but still quite surprising his podium with 0 experience at this level.

 

[acm]

I though Lipowitz too, so the 3 GT leaders together on the mountain

No, Lipo just came back from altitude training and he's doing Algarve.

 

[Faserr]

No, Lipo just came back from altitude training and he's doing Algarve.

Yes, I think Lipo will go in March before Catalunya and then again before Slovenia.

 

[Berniece]

No, Lipo just came back from altitude training and he's doing Algarve.

I thought he was also going before Catalunya?

 

[acm]

Yes, I think Lipo will go in March before Catalunya and then again before Slovenia.

Really? So he's going to altitude 3 times before TdF.

 

[Faserr]

Really? So he's going to altitude 3 times before TdF.

Yeah. Thats what I remember from his interviews. He also said they do even more altitude then last year.

 

[SafeBet]

Magagnotti is the real deal in terms of sprinting, but still quite surprising his podium with 0 experience at this level.

Power numbers are through the roof. Year 1 will be mostly a learning experience with few pro races, let's give him time.

 

[red_flanders]

It reads as if you are surprised, sorry then.

It does kinda. No worries, I just wanted to confirm as there have been a couple changes in other Bora riders' early programs and I haven't paid attention to Roglic's until now. Makes sense since he's going for the Vuelta that his season might start "later".

 

[red_flanders]

They've been looking really good in the early season here. It's nice to see Remco getting support from some really strong riders, instead of SQS trying to cobble together a bunch of mid guys and hope to stay with him. Pelizzari has been great to watch, and I look forward to seeing him in the Giro.

I have the overall impression that the team has made Remco better, and Remco is making the team better. I'm not saying it changes anything WRT overall GC power dynamics, but it is nice to see a top rider like Remco riding with a competent, strong group.

 

[AmRacer]

They've been looking really good in the early season here. It's nice to see Remco getting support from some really strong riders, instead of SQS trying to cobble together a bunch of mid guys and hope to stay with him. Pelizzari has been great to watch, and I look forward to seeing him in the Giro.

I have the overall impression that the team has made Remco better, and Remco is making the team better. I'm not saying it changes anything WRT overall GC power dynamics, but it is nice to see a top rider like Remco riding with a competent, strong group.

Algarve, UAE Tour and many other races, Remco has done this before. And he hasn't been sick or injured this winter, so it's too early to say he has improved. But yes, he has better support at RBH, probably off the bike as well, and all that should give him a boost.

 

[Cycling111]

Algarve, UAE Tour and many other races, Remco has done this before. And he hasn't been sick or injured this winter, so it's too early to say he has improved. But yes, he has better support at RBH, probably off the bike as well, and all that should give him a boost.

At the WC and European Championships, he had a better team than Pogacar. And Pogacar won a TDF in 2022. I mean, the team matters, but as we saw at the European Championships, he's going to have the same problem even if Vlasov happens to be a better climber than Adam Yates this Tour.

In the Classics, I don't think the situation will change much because of the team. Remco's victories have been due to sheer strength.
In races like Liège or Lombardy, the team isn´t as important for positioning as it is in San Remo or Roubaix.

And in the Tour, he's had to follow Pogacar and Vingegaard. Having the strongest team while not being the best climber doesn't really give you an advantage. You have better riders to follow on your team, but it's the same thing he had to do in 2024 and last year following two better climbers.

What changes is that the team can save him if they drop him and he has to make up time, but if he needs that it won't make a big difference in the mountains to beat them.

 

[red_flanders]

Algarve, UAE Tour and many other races, Remco has done this before. And he hasn't been sick or injured this winter, so it's too early to say he has improved. But yes, he has better support at RBH, probably off the bike as well, and all that should give him a boost.

The grammar here is confusing me. Not sure what you're saying about Algarve, UAE Tour, etc?

I think it looks different. Tactics look competent, the help looks stronger. Has he started a season with 5 wins in 7 starts before? I have no idea TBH, but I like what I'm seeing from the team. I'm not suggesting another level, I'm just saying it's nice to see the team riding well and him winning early. It's February. We all get it.

 

[AmRacer]

The grammar here is confusing me. Not sure what you're saying about Algarve, UAE Tour, etc?

I think it looks different. Tactics look competent, the help looks stronger. Has he started a season with 5 wins in 7 starts before? I have no idea TBH, but I like what I'm seeing from the team. I'm not suggesting another level, I'm just saying it's nice to see the team riding well and him winning early. It's February. We all get it.

I mean Remco has won many races like this before. He has had good early seasons before.

 

[red_flanders]

I mean Remco has won many races like this before. He has had good early seasons before.

Sure. Not my point.

 

[yaco]

For me its the Classics that will define their year. They were ordinary on 2025, so need to improve in 2026.

 

[Berniece]

For me its the Classics that will define their year. They were ordinary on 2025, so need to improve in 2026.

They only got Vermeersch now, not sure what to expect from them. It’s not like they can compete with MVDP/Pogi

 

[rghysens]

They only got Vermeersch now, not sure what to expect from them. It’s not like they can compete with MVDP/Pogi

If Evenepoel wins AGR and becomes 2nd in lbl and Van Gils podiums FW, their classics season will be way better than it was last year, no matter what Vermeersch does in the Flemish classics.
And I got the impression that their main goal with Evenepoel (and also that of Evenepoel self) is getting him closer to Pog in lbl.
They know he won´t win the tdf (barring accidents of pog/vingegaard).

 

[Salvarani]

For me its the Classics that will define their year. They were ordinary on 2025, so need to improve in 2026.

I dont think it is a priority for them atm. Because I believe you are more so referring to cobble races, when saying classics, and not Ardennes/hillier races where they should be really strong with their riders.

Bora is long gone from the days of Sagan, Burghardt, Oss, Bodnar... and so on.

But Pithie, Vermeersch, Van Dijke brothers, Meeus, Van Poppel, Marit... could probably do something in some semi-classics and sprint-finishes. However, their results are more like a bonus for the team as their focus is now Remco and a few of their other stage-racers/riders for hillier races.

 

[yaco]

I dont think it is a priority for them atm. Because I believe you are more so referring to cobble races, when saying classics, and not Ardennes/hillier races where they should be really strong with their riders.

Bora is long gone from the days of Sagan, Burghardt, Oss, Bodnar... and so on.

But Pithie, Vermeersch, Van Dijke brothers, Meeus, Van Poppel, Marit... could probably do something in some semi-classics and sprint-finishes. However, their results are more like a bonus for the team as their focus is now Remco and a few of their other stage-racers/riders for hillier races.

Yes, I was referring to the cobbled classics. At the end of the day they were underwhelming in 2025, so they will be hoping they improve in 2026.

 

[Salvarani]

Yes, I was referring to the cobbled classics. At the end of the day they were underwhelming in 2025, so they will be hoping they improve in 2026.

Of course, they hope the riders they have in those races will do well... but I dont think it will define their year. Thats more so on Remco, Lipo, Roglic, Hindley, Van Gils, Pellizzarri... and so on.

 

[Berniece]

If Evenepoel wins AGR and becomes 2nd in lbl and Van Gils podiums FW, their classics season will be way better than it was last year, no matter what Vermeersch does in the Flemish classics.
And I got the impression that their main goal with Evenepoel (and also that of Evenepoel self) is getting him closer to Pog in lbl.
They know he won´t win the tdf (barring accidents of pog/vingegaard).

Yeah I meant mostly cobbled classics, and MSR/Strade

 

[yaco]

Of course, they hope the riders they have in those races will do well... but I dont think it will define their year. Thats more so on Remco, Lipo, Roglic, Hindley, Van Gils, Pellizzarri... and so on.

My rule is that there are four groups of riders. Sprinters, classics cobbled, classics hilly and GC. A team can often be exceptional in three of these categories and decent in the third category. RBH should be exceptional in GC and hilly classics,, they should be decent in sprints and its up to the cobbled classics to show improvement

 

[Salvarani]

My rule is that there are four groups of riders. Sprinters, classics cobbled, classics hilly and GC. A team can often be exceptional in three of these categories and decent in the third category. RBH should be exceptional in GC and hilly classics,, they should be decent in sprints and its up to the cobbled classics to show improvement

Still dont think that is what defines their year, which is what I am responding to. It is actually pretty irrelevant depending on how Remco and others perform.