Evenepoel rules out the 2026 Giro and will share leadership in the Tour with Lipowitz

The calendars of the main actors in cycling are becoming known. The last to make public their season plans has been Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, which has already made it clear who will lead the team in the three grand tours to dispel any speculation.

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe diversifies objectives among all its leaders

Although it may seem strange, the transparency shown by Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is appreciated, as they announced their plans for the grand tours of 2026. An announcement that began with the communication of the protection of their young talents. The German team has extended the contracts of Florian Lipowitz and Giulio Pellizzari, in addition to their promise from the U23 squad, World Junior Champion Lorenzo Finn, who is expected to debut in the World Tour team for the 2027 season.

“The development of talent is part of the team's DNA. Florian and Giulio were not even 20 years old when we discovered them, and today they are cyclists who can make a difference in a grand tour. Lorenzo is even younger and has already won two titles with us. This trio represents our future and the path we are obliged to follow,” commented Ralph Denk, CEO of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.

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Beyond these renewals, the most relevant aspect was knowing the team's plans for the grand tours, where the biggest surprise is the absence of Remco Evenepoel from a Giro d'Italia that seemed tailor-made for him due to its long 40-kilometer time trial.

The leadership of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in the Giro d'Italia will fall on the shoulders of Giulio Pellizzari and Jai Hindley. Let's not forget that the Australian can boast of having won the race. Meanwhile, Remco Evenepoel will lead the team again in the Tour de France, although sharing leadership with Florian Lipowitz, who made it to the podium of the race in 2025. On their way to the Grande Boucle, they will only coincide in the Volta a Catalunya during the spring, after which Remco will focus on the Ardennes classics while Lipowitz will set his sights on the Tour de Romandie.

Finally, the Vuelta a España will again be the ambition of Primoz Roglic, who continues to hold out hope of achieving his fifth red jersey. Until then, his spring will follow a classic profile in his preparation, with a calendar focused on week-long tours, including Tirreno-Adriatico, Itzulia, and Tour de Romandie.