Remco Evenepoel makes no mistake about his ambitions for the Tour de France 2026: he comes for the win and specifically for the yellow jersey. The Belgian rider from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is sharpening his goals and aiming for an immediate impact in the first week. Evenepoel puts the team time trial in on his radar as the crucial moment to win the first yellow jersey.
That's not his only target; a stage win and the individual time trial are also high on his wish list. He acknowledges that these objectives are ambitious, but that fits his profile as a winner. The collaboration with Florian Lipowitz plays a key role in this, as they will lead the team through France as double leaders.
"I aim for the highest," Evenepoel stated emphatically about his approach for the upcoming Tour. He emphasizes that he is not participating for the sake of participation, but that the focus is entirely on taking the jersey and stages. This mentality reflects his preparation and the belief that with the right support from the team, including Lipowitz, he can win the Grand Tour.
The strategic choice to use the team time trial in Barcelona as a launching platform shows tactical insight. An early yellow jersey forces competitors to control the course, creating room for the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe riders in the subsequent stages. The double-header construction is a risky but necessary move; it offers flexibility in the mountains and against the clock, but requires an ego-less collaboration rarely seen in modern cycling.
This long-term vision underlines the cultural shift within the team under the wings of Red Bull. It is no longer enough to be competitive; the demand is absolute dominance. By setting the bar so high for 2026, Evenepoel is inexorably positioning itself as the new reference in the peloton.
It forces the competition to adjust their own planning around this date, knowing that the Belgian machine must then be running at full speed. The focus now shifts to the concrete preparation and coordination of the strategy between Evenepoel and Lipowitz. How the dynamic between these two leaders translates in the mountains and against the clock will determine the success of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in the 2026 Tour.
The choice of Barcelona as the starting point of the strategy is not arbitrary. The team time trial in the opening week of the Tour is a rare opportunity to immediately win a classification jersey without having to rely on individual time trials or mountain stages. For a rider like Evenepoel, who performs excellently both uphill and against the clock, this approach offers a unique opportunity to immediately dominate the Tour.
The timing is in line with recent improvements in the team, where team time trial speed has become a priority under the leadership of sports director Ralph Denk. The collaboration with Lipowitz adds a layer of tactical depth. Lipowitz, a specialist in time trials and hilly courses, can play a crucial role in defending the yellow jersey in the first week.
His ability to finish in the top 10 in the first week could reduce the pressure on Evenepoel and give the team extra space to drive attacking. This symbiosis between two leaders with different but complementary strengths makes Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe a unique challenger in the Tour 2026. Reactions within the peloton are divided.
While some riders praise Evenepoel's ambition as a breath of fresh air in cycling, others see it as a provocation that only increases the pressure on the competition. "If Remco thinks he can win the Tour in 2026 by taking the yellow jersey after the team time trial, then he should try," responded an anonymous top favorite. "But it's a risk that not everyone would take.
" This overt ambition sets the tone for the rest of the peloton and forces other teams to sharpen their strategy for 2026 now. Teams like Jumbo-Visma and Ineos Grenadiers will have to overhaul their own leaders to keep up with the Belgian machine. What's next: The coming months will be all about the preparation for the team time trial in Barcelona.
Evenepoel and Lipowitz will further fine-tune their partnership as the team focuses on perfecting their time trial capabilities. The first test will come earlier: the team time trial in the Critérium du Dauphiné in June 2025, where Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe will put its tactical cards on the table. This will be followed by the final selection and final adjustments for the 2026 Tour. Read at HLN Sport
Why this matters
Evenepoel's statements reveal more than just sporting objectives; they show a mental shift towards absolute dominance in the biggest tour in the world. By explicitly setting the yellow jersey as a goal after the team time trial, he takes pressure off himself but also takes control. His role as leader at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, combined with the collaboration with Lipowitz, defines the new team culture and tactical direction for the coming years. This overt ambition sets the tone for the rest of the peloton and forces other teams to adapt their strategy for 2026 now.
Frequently asked
What are Evenepoel's specific goals for the 2026 Tour?
Evenepoel is aiming for a stage victory, the individual time trial and capturing the first yellow jersey immediately after the team time trial in Barcelona. This early approach suits his aggressive driving style and desire to control the course immediately.
How does Evenepoel work with Florian Lipowitz?
Together they act as double leaders within the team. This collaboration is essential to realize Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe's ambitions in the Tour and offers tactical flexibility in different terrains.
Why is the team time trial in Barcelona important?
This is the moment when Evenepoel hopes to conquer the yellow jersey. A strong team result here is crucial for his position in the general classification and puts the pressure on the competition.
How does the team time trial in Barcelona fit into the overall Tour strategy?
The team time trial is planned as the first major classification event, allowing Evenepoel to immediately win a jersey without being dependent on individual performance. This forces competitors to respond and gives Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe control over the pace in the first week.
What makes the collaboration between Evenepoel and Lipowitz unique?
Both riders complement each other: Evenepoel excels in mountain stages and time trials, while Lipowitz is a specialist in time trials and hilly courses. This combination makes the team more flexible and harder to counter.
