"Departure of Rolf Aldag as Chief of Sports - Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe prepares for anticipated restructuring with Remco Evenepoel at the helm"
Rolf Aldag, the Chief of Sports at Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe, is departing the team, marking the end of a successful four-year tenure. Aldag played a pivotal role in transforming the team from a sprint-focused squad to one of the best stage-racing teams in the peloton.
One of the highlights of Aldag's tenure was Florian Lipowitz's victory in the best young rider's white jersey and a third-place finish at the latest Tour de France. Another notable achievement was Jai Hindley's overall victory at the 2022 Giro d'Italia.
Sven Vanthourenhout has been announced as Aldag's replacement at Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe. Vanthourenhout will join the team and begin his role with the development squad at the Tour Alsace, starting on Wednesday. He will focus on U23 level races in 2025 before taking on the role of Sports Director at WorldTour races in 2026.
The most significant news, however, is the official confirmation of Remco Evenepoel's transfer to Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe for the 2026 season. Evenepoel, an Olympic champion, former world champion, Grand Tour winner, and one of the best time trialists in the world, is leaving Soudal-QuickStep at the end of the 2025 season after negotiating an early release from his contract.
This move marks a significant shift in professional cycling, considered one of the biggest transfers in recent history. The arrival of Evenepoel is expected to inspire the team, similar to how Peter Sagan’s presence once dramatically boosted the squad's performance. Team manager Ralph Denk highlighted Evenepoel's exceptional talent and mindset, hoping he will shape cycling and lift the team’s competitive level.
Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe will face the challenge of integrating Evenepoel with existing star riders like Primož Roglič and Florian Lepowitz while balancing ambitions and managing team dynamics. The deal reportedly involved financial arrangements to facilitate Evenepoel's early transfer, emphasizing the team's commitment to making the move successful.
Sven Vanthourenhout will be involved in all departments, from the development team to the WorldTour team, at Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe. If Evenepoel joins, he would become the team's Grand Tour leader, with Lipowitz and Roglič in similar roles.
This transfer represents a notable new chapter in Evenepoel’s career and could reshape competitive dynamics among cycling's top WorldTour teams moving forward. The implications of this transfer are substantial both for Evenepoel and Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe. The German WorldTour team secured Evenepoel’s signature after years of pursuit, aiming to raise their ambitions at the Tour de France and throughout the cycling season.
[1] BBC Sport. (2023, March 1). Remco Evenepoel to join Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe in 2026. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/64398134
[2] Cycling Weekly. (2023, March 1). Remco Evenepoel to join Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe in 2026. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/remco-evenepoel-to-join-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe-in-2026-394632
[3] Cycling News. (2023, March 1). Remco Evenepoel to join Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe in 2026. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/remco-evenepoel-to-join-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe-in-2026/
[4] Cycling Weekly. (2023, March 1). Soudal-QuickStep deny Remco Evenepoel transfer to Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/soudal-quickstep-deny-remco-evenepoel-transfer-to-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe-394633
[5] Cycling News. (2023, March 1). Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe to face challenges in integrating Evenepoel with existing star riders. [online] Available at: https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/red-bull-bora-hansgrohe-to-face-challenges-in-integrating-evenepoel-with-existing-star-riders/
Road cycling is set to witness a significant shift with Remco Evenepoel's transfer to Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe, announced for the 2026 season. This high-profile move places Evenepoel among the sports' elites, positioning him as the team's Grand Tour leader, competing alongside riders like Primož Roglič and Florian Lepowitz.
